Plans To Limit Social Media For Children: Need Strong Data So It's Not Considered Blank

JAKARTA The government plans to limit access to social media for a certain age, because Indonesian children are exposed to many pornographic content, violence, and others. Social media observer Enda Nasution emphasized that the government needed accurate data before making this regulation.

The Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Kemkomdigi) is currently designing regulations for limiting children's social media accounts (medsos). This is done as part of child protection efforts in the digital space.

The regulation is being discussed with Commission I of the DPR so that it can be immediately ratified into law.

Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs (Menkomdigi) Meutya Hafid in a working meeting with the Ministry of Communication and Digi at the DPR Building explained that the rules that are being drafted are not aimed at limiting children's access to social media, but to limit the creation of social media accounts by children.

"We are trying to formulate a rule that is typical of Indonesia, that is. Basically, to explain the perception circulating in the mass media at this time, what is being designed is not limiting social media access but limiting access to children's accounts on social media," said Meutya, Tuesday (4/2/2024).

Prior to this, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) placed Indonesia as the fourth country in the world and second in Southeast Asia with the most content of child pornography cases.

This was confirmed by the Minister of Trade, Meutya Hafid. For four years, the number of child pornography cases in Indonesia has reached 5,566,015. It has not mentioned online gambling which also targets children, bullying, sexual violence against children, and other negative aspects.

The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) released data in 2022 regarding the number of smartphone users for early childhood in Indonesia, reaching 33.44 percent. The details are 25.5 percent of child users aged 0-4 years and 52.76 percent of children aged 5-6 years.

Meanwhile, the Indonesian Internet Service Providers Association found 48 percent of children under the age of 12 had Internet access, including using Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok platforms. A poll was conducted on 8,700 respondents last year.

Special age restrictions for children in the use of social media have been imposed in several countries. Australia, for example, by the end of November 2024 has passed a social media restriction law.

In the regulation, children under the age of 16 are prohibited from using social media platforms such as TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, X, and Reddit. The ban will take effect one year after the law is passed by Australian parliament.

Tech companies are also facing fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars (IDR 504 million) if they do not comply.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated that this rule aims to protect children from the dangers of using social media, such as addiction, harmful content, and its impact on mental health.

However, this ban has received protests from many children and millennial activists. They think social media also has benefits, such as facilitating learning and establishing relationships.

Other countries that have also passed internet access restrictions for minors are France and several states in the United States. France since 2023 has even required children under 15 to depend on parental permission before registering on social media.

French authorities have asked social media platforms to implement a verification system to ensure that the permits are actually obtained. Prior to this policy, L' Association e-Enfance data showed 82 percent of minors were exposed to harmful content such as the sale of narcotics, weapons, and images and inappropriate videos.

In Florida, United States, social media restrictions are in effect from January 1, 2025. Children under the age of 14 are prohibited from having social media accounts, while children aged 14-15 years can still have social media accounts with parental consent and knowledge.

This rule aims to protect children from exposure to content that is not on their age.

Each social media company can be fined 10,000 US dollars (IDR 155 million) for any violation if it does not want to delete children's accounts as requested by their parents or guardians.

Florida hopes that this policy can be a model for other states to implement similar measures to protect the younger generation.

Social media observer Enda Nasution welcomed the Ministry of Communication and Digi's plan to make regulations regarding the use of social media for children. However, Enda said, the government had to do more studies before making the regulation.

"That's why then I suggest that it's better not to rush too much. Even if there is later, don't make regulations that just overtake, "said Enda Nasution.

The government, said Enda, should further review the discourse on social media restrictions for minors. He also questioned the data on children who had a negative impact due to playing social media.

Before passing a regulation, Enda reminded the government regarding the importance of being supported by strong data.

"So it was first defined what the problem really was that you wanted to solve with this regulation?" said Enda.

"If for example someone says it's urgent, what is the urgency and how wide the victim is, if there is anxiety, how big is the anxiety? Maybe it can be displayed, for example, the graphs from year to year get worse," he added.

With strong data, according to Enda, the government is avoiding the public's assumption that they are making regulations just to seek popularity.