Indonesia to Implement Child Protection Guidelines for Social Media

Indonesia plans to introduce interim child protection guidelines for social media companies as it develops a law to establish a minimum age for users, VOA reported. Communications Minister Meutya Hafid announced the initiative on Wednesday, following discussions with President Prabowo Subianto.

The move comes in response to growing concerns about children’s safety online, particularly after Australia implemented a ban on social media access for children under 16, imposing fines on companies like Meta and TikTok for non-compliance. Alexander Sabar, a senior official in the communications ministry, emphasized that the government aims to enhance regulations concerning age limits to protect children from various online dangers.

While specific details of the upcoming regulations have not been disclosed, Sabar noted that the focus will be on safeguarding children from physical, mental, and moral threats without entirely restricting their access to social media platforms.

Public opinion is divided on the issue. Nurmayanti, a concerned parent, supports stricter controls on harmful content, while Anis Hidayah, a commissioner at Indonesia’s human rights body, cautioned against infringing on children’s rights to access information. A survey indicates that nearly 50% of children under 12 in Indonesia are already using the internet, including platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
It should be mentioned that Indonesia is home to the largest Muslim community of roughly 242 million strong.