Heaptalk, Jakarta — YouGov, a market research company, has launched its latest survey on public responses to the government’s initiative to regulate social media for kids in Indonesia. There is overwhelming public support for this initiative, with 84% of Indonesian parents with at least one child under 18 backing the proposal to set a minimum age for social media access.
Through the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Komdigi), the Indonesian Government initiated legislation regulating social media usage among children under 17, copying Australia’s move that recently restricted children under 16 from using platforms such as Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and others.
Women show greater support
Women show more significant support, with 88% favoring the measure compared to 81% of men. These findings are processed from data based on surveys of adults aged 18+ in Indonesia, with a sample size of 892 respondents. The survey was conducted online in January 2025, and the data used online representative samples.
This widespread endorsement comes as concerns over social media’s impact on younger generations continue to rise. Exposure to age-inappropriate content remains the biggest concern for Indonesian parents regarding social media usage by children, with 81% citing this issue. Other issues include addiction or excessive screen time (74%), negative mental health impacts (70%), and the spread of misinformation (62%).
However, while the majority agree with the regulation, only half (50%) believe it will curb children’s online presence effectively. A smaller portion (17%) doubts the legislation’s effectiveness, and 33% remain neutral. Most parents (81%) believe that ages 15-17 are appropriate, while 12% feel that 12-14 is a suitable starting point.
TikTok seen as the most dangerous
According to YouGov data, nearly half of the respondents (49%) report that their children are already active on social media, while 45% say their children do not use it. Despite this, 82% of parents allow their children access to social media in some capacity. Over a third (34%) monitor their children’s activity periodically, 28% allow access through their own devices and 14% set time limits on usage. Only 18% of parents have entirely prohibited their children from using social media.
Additionally, the survey found that most Indonesians favor limiting screen time. About half (50%) agree that up to 2 hours a day is the ideal amount of time children should spend on social media, while 43% suggest 3-5 hours as the optimal duration. A tiny percentage considers any time beyond this acceptable.
Regarding the safety of different platforms, TikTok is considered the most dangerous for children, with 58% of respondents expressing concerns. X, formerly Twitter, follows closely, with 51% citing it as a potential risk. On the other hand, YouTube and Instagram are seen as safer platforms, though many respondents hold a neutral stance regarding their potential dangers.
