JAKARTA: TikTok and YouTube have deactivated about 4.7 million accounts belonging to users under the age of 16 in Indonesia as the country’s new social media restrictions begin to take effect, the communications ministry said.
Communications and Digital Minister Meutya Hafid said TikTok removed 4.1 million accounts, while YouTube deactivated about 600,000. The government expects other platforms, including Instagram, X, and Roblox, to follow suit.
The move follows regulations introduced in March requiring social media platforms classified as high risk to deactivate accounts belonging to children under 16 as part of Indonesia’s efforts to strengthen online safety and reduce children’s exposure to harmful content.
“We’re not just delaying a child’s access, but we want behaviors from platforms to change, too,” Hafid said, adding that authorities are reviewing compliance reports submitted by the companies.
Neither TikTok nor YouTube immediately responded to requests for comment, according to Reuters.
