TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Executive Director of Amnesty International Indonesia, Usman Hamid, believes that the government's plan to ban access to social media for children under 16 years old has the potential to deprive children of their right to obtain information and communicate.
"This comprehensive ban on social media will deprive tens of millions of young children in Indonesia of important channels to communicate with others, access information, develop creativity, and express themselves," Usman said in an official statement on Monday, March 9, 2026.
The government had previously announced a policy to restrict access to social media for children under 16 years old. The regulation conveyed by the Ministry of Communication and Digital will come into effect on March 28, 2026. All social media accounts belonging to children under this age will be deactivated, including on platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, Bigo Live, and Roblox.
Usman stated that social media has been an important space for children and teenagers to express their opinions. He cited many students who are actively discussing online to highlight public policy issues, including government programs such as the Free Nutritious Food Program (MBG).
With this comprehensive ban, Usman said, children will find it increasingly difficult to voice their views on policies that directly affect their lives.
Usman believes the government's claim that children are vulnerable to dangers on social media does not justify a total ban. According to him, this approach simplifies the complex issues in the digital space. "With this ban, the government is taking a wrong step and oversimplifying the problem," he said.
He also warned that this policy is at risk of pushing children to access social media furtively without adequate protection. Moreover, the current younger generation is growing up in a digital ecosystem that is difficult to separate from everyday life. "Certainly, many of them will find ways to bypass this ban," Usman said.
According to Usman, a more appropriate solution is to strengthen human rights protection in the digital space, not to ban access altogether. The government, he said, can tighten regulations on digital platforms through thorough testing, monitoring of addictive design, and the implementation of strong data protection laws. "Not a comprehensive ban that fails to address the root causes of online hazards," he said.
Usman also believes that this policy overlooks children's right to be heard in every decision that affects their lives, including in the governance of digital access. Yet, digital access is now an important part of education, welfare, and children's participation in public spaces. "This ban also means we are throwing away the opportunity to build solutions that truly empower children to navigate the digital world safely," he said.
Previously, Minister of Communication and Digital, Meutya Hafid, stated that this policy is the "best step" for the government to respond to a condition referred to as a digital emergency. The government deems these restrictions necessary to protect children from risks such as online pornography, cyberbullying, digital fraud, and internet addiction.
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