Indonesia is preparing for a major digital shift as a new rule comes into effect that will limit children under the age of 16 from using several popular social media platforms. For many young users, this change feels sudden and personal. Eleven-year-old Bradley Rowen Liu, a student in Jakarta, is already thinking about what his daily routine might look like once the rule begins. Like many children his age, much of his free time is spent watching videos and scrolling through TikTok. On weekends, he says he can easily spend hours on the app, sometimes up to five hours a day.
Bradley is one of nearly 70 million children the Indonesian government hopes to protect through this new measure. Officials say the move is meant to address growing concerns about cyberbullying, exposure to inappropriate content, online addiction, and the overall mental and physical wellbeing of young users. While discussions about restricting youth access to social media have been happening worldwide, Indonesia is among the first countries to actually put a nationwide rule into action.
The decision follows a global trend where governments are starting to examine the effects of social media on younger generations. Earlier moves in countries like Australia sparked debates about whether platforms should allow teenagers to open accounts at all. Now Indonesia is stepping forward with its own version of a protective policy, placing responsibility directly on technology companies.
Under the new rule, platforms considered high risk for young users will need to deactivate accounts belonging to under-16 users. These include YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, Bigo Live, and the gaming platform Roblox. Authorities believe these platforms, while widely popular, can expose children to unhealthy online habits if not carefully managed.
Bradley admits that the change might be difficult at first. He says he may try to spend time doing other activities, but he also wonders if he will ask his parents for help to still access the apps. His reaction reflects what many young users are likely feeling right now: curiosity, uncertainty, and a little frustration.
Government officials say the goal is not to punish children or parents but to support them. Communications Minister Meutya Hafid emphasized that families should not have to struggle alone against powerful algorithms designed to keep people online longer. Instead, the rule shifts the responsibility to the platforms themselves. If companies fail to comply, they could face penalties such as fines or even temporary suspension in the country. The policy will be introduced gradually, though details about how age verification and monitoring will work are still being discussed.
This decision also arrives during a wider international conversation about the effects of social media on young minds. Recently, a jury in Los Angeles ruled that major platforms were responsible for harm caused by addictive design features, awarding damages to a young user. In the United Kingdom, lawmakers are also debating stronger limits on children’s access to social networks.
Among students in Indonesia, reactions are mixed. Some feel annoyed about losing access to their favorite apps, while others believe the rule might actually help them. Fifteen-year-old Maximillian, another student, admitted that he often spends too much time online and sometimes ends the day feeling unproductive. For him, the restriction could be a positive step.
Teachers are also observing how social media affects learning environments. Randi Putra Chaniago, a young instructor at the academy where Bradley studies coding, says that certain types of content circulating online—especially strange AI-generated videos often described as “brain rot”—can distract students and influence how they think. He believes the new rule might encourage schools and educators to explore more focused and educational tools instead of relying heavily on social media platforms.
Some education groups are even suggesting stricter measures, such as banning mobile phones from classrooms altogether. They argue that reducing digital distractions could help students focus better and build healthier habits.
Technology companies, however, are raising concerns about how the rule might impact supervised accounts that already include safety features. Google, the parent company of YouTube, says it has introduced tools that allow parents to limit screen time and monitor activity. The company also plans to launch artificial intelligence technology in Indonesia next year to help determine users’ ages more accurately. According to its statement, completely restricting accounts could remove some of the protective systems currently available to young users.
TikTok has said it will work with the Indonesian government to maintain safe online spaces for teenagers, while Roblox has promised to introduce additional parental controls and protections for minors.
Experts in child development say the issue is complex but important. Educational psychologist Karina Adistiana explains that research consistently shows that heavy social media use can affect children’s mental health. The real concern, she says, is when online platforms become a child’s main world rather than just a small part of their life. When that happens, problems like anxiety, sleep issues, reduced focus, and constant checking of notifications often begin to appear.
In the end, this new policy is not only about technology rules. It is about how society chooses to guide the next generation in a world where screens are everywhere. Children today grow up surrounded by digital spaces that can inspire creativity and connection, but they can also overwhelm young minds if left unchecked.
For kids like Bradley, the coming change might feel confusing at first. Yet it may also open the door to new routines—more time learning skills, playing outdoors, reading, building ideas, or simply connecting with people in the real world. Sometimes a pause from constant scrolling can help young minds rediscover curiosity, imagination, and balance.
Indonesia’s move could become an important moment that other countries watch closely. The bigger question now is not only how platforms will respond, but how families, schools, and communities will help children build a healthier relationship with technology in the years ahead.
