Jakarta. Major global tech platforms have responded to Indonesia’s upcoming rule requiring the deactivation of social media accounts belonging to users under 16, emphasizing support for child safety while urging careful implementation.

The responses came after the government issued Communications and Digital Ministry Regulation No. 9/2026, an implementing rule of Government Regulation No. 17/2025 on Electronic System Governance for Child Protection (PP Tunas). The regulation will take effect on March 28, 2026 and requires platforms to limit or deactivate accounts belonging to children under 16.

Meta, YouTube, and TikTok said they share the government’s goal of protecting young users online but stressed that the policy must be implemented carefully to avoid unintended consequences.

A spokesperson for Meta told Kompas.com, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, said the company supports efforts to create a safer digital environment for teenagers.

“Our goal is the same as the government’s, to create a safe and positive online experience for teenagers,” the spokesperson said.

However, Meta cautioned that strict restrictions could push young users toward less secure corners of the internet.

“Restrictions on social media must be implemented carefully so they do not encourage teenagers to move to more dangerous and unmonitored sites, or to experiences without login that bypass important protections,” the spokesperson added.

Instagram and Facebook currently require users to be at least 13 years old to create accounts.

In a statement obtained by The Jakarta Globe, a YouTube representative said the video-sharing platform is reviewing the new regulation while continuing to prioritize child safety and access to educational content.

“YouTube is a high-quality video-sharing platform that has invested for more than a decade in child safety. We are reviewing this new regulation to ensure the policy supports our goals of empowering parents and maintaining access to learning for millions of Indonesians,” the YouTube representative said.

“We will continue constructive communication with the government and remain committed to protecting young people in the digital world, not distancing them from it,” the representative added.

TikTok also said it is coordinating with authorities to better understand the regulation’s implementation.

“We have heard the announcement regarding the implementation rules of PP Tunas and are currently coordinating with the Communications and Digital Ministry to understand the provisions further,” a TikTok spokesperson said.

The platform noted that teen accounts already include extensive safeguards.

“Teen accounts on TikTok come with more than 50 safety, privacy, and security features automatically activated to help teenagers express creativity safely, connect with friends, and learn on the platform,” the spokesperson said.

“We remain committed to working with the Indonesian government to ensure teenagers can continue accessing safe online spaces,” the spokesperson added.

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