In an effort to safeguard young users from the dangers of social media, Indonesia is drawing inspiration from Australia's recent measures and preparing to implement similar restrictions for children. Communication and Digital Affairs Minister Meutya Hafid recently announced that the government is in the process of drafting regulations to establish a minimum age for social media access, although the exact age limit is still under consideration.

The move comes as part of the Indonesian government's broader initiative to protect children from exposure to harmful online content. President Prabowo Subianto has been actively involved in these discussions, emphasizing the need for greater protection in the digital space. Meutya highlighted the President’s strong support for these efforts, stating that he is particularly focused on shielding children from the negative influences they may encounter online.

The government's approach is still in its early stages, with a comprehensive study being conducted to evaluate the most effective ways to regulate social media use among children. Meutya explained that the government will first issue a governmental regulation as an interim measure while preparing for potential legislative involvement should further steps be necessary to strengthen child protection laws.

The initiative follows global concerns over children's exposure to inappropriate or harmful content on social media platforms. With platforms like TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and others offering vast amounts of content, authorities worldwide are taking steps to protect younger audiences. Australia's recent move to prohibit children under 16 from accessing social media or creating new accounts, accompanied by hefty penalties for non-compliant platforms, has set a precedent for other nations like Indonesia to follow.

Indonesia's forthcoming regulations will likely have significant implications for both social media companies and users, as the government continues to explore the best methods for balancing digital freedom with the need for protection.

As these developments unfold, the Indonesian public and industry stakeholders will be closely watching how the regulations take shape and how they could impact the country's digital landscape.