Indonesia’s YouTube Compliance Issues
On Thursday, Meutiya Hafid, Indonesia’s Minister of Communications and Digital, expressed concerns regarding YouTube’s adherence to the country’s ban on social media accounts for children under 16. She indicated that failing to comply might lead to “sanctions.”
Starting in March, Indonesia instituted a restriction on “high-risk platforms” for kids under 16. While some have criticized the government for placing significant and sudden obligations on social media firms, Hafid assured that implementation would be gradual until all platforms met their responsibilities.
“The reasons are straightforward,” she remarked. “Children nowadays face very real dangers, including exposure to pornography, bullying, online scams, and addiction. The government aims to support parents in combating these algorithmic challenges.”
Interestingly, Hafid’s promise of gradual enforcement unfolded swiftly; by early April, her office had summoned Google, Facebook, and Meta, citing their “failure to comply” just days after the ban took effect. The Ministry also indicated that companies could receive up to three subpoenas before sanctions would be initiated.
Alexander Savar, the Director of Digital Space Supervision, highlighted the pressing need for the law’s implementation, stating that delays would only increase the risks faced by children online. “We demand swift and clear compliance from all platforms, especially global ones,” he asserted.
Given Indonesia’s high social media usage and its predominantly young demographic, compliance poses significant challenges. At the time the under-16 ban was enforced, the country retained one of the largest social media user bases globally, with approximately 70 million children affected.
Hafid mentioned that her agency could no longer “tolerate” violations from YouTube, stating that while they would explore sanctions, currently, it was limited to a formal reprimand directed to Google.
Furthermore, the Indonesian government has cautioned that non-compliant social media platforms might encounter severe repercussions, including large fines or an outright ban on operations within the country.
Among the platforms considered “high-risk” besides YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram, are services like Bigo Live, TikTok, X, Threads, and chat rooms.
While Hafid acknowledged that X and Bigo Live had quickly adapted to the new restrictions, she pointed out that Roblox and TikTok only demonstrated “partial” compliance. In contrast, both Google and Meta have expressed opposition to the ban, arguing that parents should have the authority to decide what apps their teenagers can use. Google also suggested that the restrictions could inadvertently allow teens to use YouTube anonymously, bypassing parental controls already in place.
Indonesia is joining a broader global trend inspired by Australia to impose limitations on children’s access to social media. In Australia, a similar ban for those under 16 took effect in December, leading to the closure of around 4.7 million children’s social media accounts within a month.
Recently, on Thursday, Greece also announced its intent to introduce legislation aiming to restrict social media usage for children, setting an age limit of 15, with plans for enforcement beginning on January 1, 2027, if the bill passes.
