Families in Indonesia are adjusting to tighter rules curbing children’s access to online gaming and social media, as the country prepares to deactivate what authorities describe as “high‑risk” social media accounts for under 16s, taking effect on Saturday (March 28).

Roblox, Instagram, Google's YouTube and TikTok, owned by China's ByteDance, were among platforms identified by the Communications and Digital Ministry as being high risk., has been welcomed by many parents concerned about online risks such as addiction, cyberbullying and exposure to harmful content.

At a home in Bogor, West Java, 9‑year‑old Anza Zafran Utama spends much of his free time playing online games and watching videos on his mobile device. Like many children his age, he says he enjoys platforms such as Roblox and YouTube and would feel disappointed if access became more limited, though he says he would eventually switch to other games.

His mother, Andina Dwi, supports stricter controls on digital platforms, saying excessive time spent on games and social media can cause children to lose track of time and neglect daily responsibilities.

“I agree to the ban, because when he plays Roblox or uses social media, he forgets about time,” Dwi said.

Indonesia has strengthened its child online protection framework with new regulations that apply to both online gaming and social media platforms. The rules require digital service providers to enforce minimum age limits and introduce safeguards for underage users.

Under the new requirements, social media platform X said users in Indonesia must be at least 16 years old to create or maintain an account starting March 28, 2026, adding that the age limit is mandated by Indonesian law.

Online gaming platform Roblox has also said it will comply with the regulations and plans to introduce additional controls on content and communication for users under 16 in Indonesia.

Over in Jakarta, 10-year old Andara Brahma Satria said many of his friends enjoy playing Roblox and will feel sad or disappointed by the changes, while playing Roblox games on his tablet.

The changes underscore Indonesia’s efforts to balance children’s access to digital entertainment and social media with stronger protections for online safety.

-Production: Johan Purnomo, Yuddy Cahta Budiman, Heru Asprihanto/Reuters