Indonesia’s Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs, Meutya Hafid, in a press conference on social media regulation for children in 2026. (Indonesian Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs)
Reja is a lecturer at the Political Science Department of Universitas Pembangunan Nasional “Veteran” Jakarta. The views expressed are his own and do not represent SEA Daily or that of another organisation.
Indonesia’s Pioneering Digital Age Restrictions for Children
“Indonesia has successfully become the first non-Western country to implement age-appropriate restrictions on children’s access to the digital space,” stated Meutya Hafid, Indonesia’s Minister of Communication and Digital. While not entirely true—Malaysia implemented the ban earlier back in January—this policy is arguably a positive response toward gadget addiction among Indonesian children. Existing regulations, such as restrictions on gadget use in classrooms, only apply to certain parties and are not comprehensive.
The regulation would allow the government to claim that the state is present and cares about children’s mental health development from the destructive impacts of digital platforms. On March 6, the ministry issued Communication and Digital Ministerial Regulation No. 9 of 2026 on the Implementation of Government Regulation No. 17 of 2025 on the Governance of Electronic System Operators in Child Protection. This regulation enforces a minimum age for children using digital services. It mandates digital platforms to restrict access to negative content, prohibits children under 16 from having social media accounts without strict supervision and protects children’s personal data from exploitation.
The Hidden Dangers of Excessive Gadget Use Among Indonesian Children
Today, many Indonesian parents hand their children over to gadgets. It is a convenient way to keep their child busy as they go about their daily activities. However, this logic has led to a concerning phenomenon. The average screen time for children in Indonesia in 2025 was marked as “extremely high”, reaching 7.5 hours per day, far beyond the expert-recommended limit of 1-2 hours per day for children aged 6 and above to safeguard physical and mental health. Such a high screen time—mainly spent on social media—may lead to serious consequences. A simple example: many children today no longer recognise real food such as vegetables, home-cooked meals, etc. They prefer the generally less-healthy instant food and artificial chemical-laden drinks, which is over-represented on social media. Moreover, the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission has highlighted that over the past five years, more than 5 million items of child pornography content have circulated in Indonesia. Sex education is necessary, but addiction to sexual acts is a different matter. Parents are finding it increasingly difficult to control their children; the government must intervene.
Numerous studies emphasise the benefits to children’s psychomotor development if they are introduced to conventional or manual activities rather than sitting idly in front of phone screens. For instance, reading paper books—according to a study by Rush University Medical Center—can prevent a 32% decline in cognitive function later in life. In school settings, the “Quiet” campaign in educational environments has often been spotlighted globally. UNESCO reports since 2023 have frequently highlighted campaigns on freeing classrooms from gadget use for pupils. A single notification on a phone screen can distract a student’s attention, requiring 20 minutes to restore it.
Developed Countries are Increasingly Restricting Gadgets for Children
Empirically, child education in first-world countries is markedly different. Many children in developed nations are educated not to use gadgets. This is why scenes of reading books, socialising, and interacting in family rooms or home gardens are commonplace. They are rarely seen using gadgets. Even for toddlers, parents in advanced countries tend to let their children play in nature, on grass, with sand, enjoy playgrounds, and much more—all under parental supervision.
“In Germany, I have come to believe that ‘back to basics’ is not entirely outdated—proof is that they never provide facilities to children as advanced as in Indonesia, yet their country keeps progressing.” stated Imam, an Indonesian student in Germany with a toddler.
Since 6 March 2026, the Indonesian government has enforced a policy to delay children’s accounts in the digital space, with implementation to be rolled out gradually from 28 March 2026. This is a milestone for the nation—not just to appear present, but to nurture a whole generation that will soon be the country’s future. The government has enacted the policy, but if implementation is not comprehensive, the regulation will be futile. Parental supervision of children’s development will greatly assist the government in realising this regulation effectively. Parents must not merely appear present; they must actively supervise their children. Indonesian children must be encouraged to think more critically, based on real actions and deeds in daily life, rather than passively staring at gadget screens with all their consequences.
About The Author
