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Indonesian kids brace themselves for social media ban

By AFP
March 28, 2026
Children play online games against each other on smartphones and tablets along an alley in Jakarta on March 26, 2026. — AFP
Children play online games against each other on smartphones and tablets along an alley in Jakarta on March 26, 2026. — AFP

JAKARTA: Bradley Rowen Liu, 11, wonders what he will do with himself once Indonesia´s social media ban for under-16s enters into force on Saturday. As things stand, he spends most of his free time on TikTok.

The primary schooler is one of about 70 million children the government is hoping to shield from the threats of cyberbullying, pornography and internet addiction.

Several countries have proposed teen social media bans since Australia´s landmark move in December to stop users under 16 from holding accounts on many popular platforms.