JAKARTA, June 27. /Dunyo IA/. Social media platforms TikTok and YouTube have collectively deactivated about 4.7 million accounts belonging to children under the age of 16 in Indonesia, reports Dunyo IA correspondent.

According to Reuters, citing Minister of Communications and Digital Affairs Meutya Hafid, the move follows the implementation of new restrictions on social media platforms.

TikTok reportedly removed 4.1 million accounts, while the video-sharing platform YouTube deactivated approximately 600,000 accounts. Company representatives have not yet commented on the reports.

In March, Indonesia adopted regulations requiring social media platforms designated by the government as “high-risk” to deactivate accounts belonging to users under the age of 16. The rules already apply to platforms including X, Instagram (owned by Meta), and the gaming platform Roblox.

The minister said the government aims not only to restrict children’s access to social media but also to encourage platforms to change their own policies.

“We’re not just ‌delaying ⁠a child’s access, but we want behaviors from platforms to change, too,” she said, adding that the ministry is currently reviewing self-assessment reports submitted by the companies.

Indonesia’s measures are intended to reduce the risks of cyberbullying and digital addiction. The initiative follows similar steps taken in Australia, where restrictions were introduced over concerns about the impact of social media on young people's mental health.

Australia’s approach has attracted significant international attention, with several countries considering similar measures to protect minors. The United Kingdom, for example, announced earlier this month that it plans to expand its regulations to include gaming and streaming platforms.

Photo credit: UN News