Indonesia May Introduce E-Commerce Ban for Under-16s

The Indonesian government is considering an e-commerce ban for users under the age of 16. The country had already introduced a comprehensive social media ban for teenagers.

Indone sia’s Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs, Meutya Hafid, told AFP: “E-commerce platforms are next, because we found that children became victims of scams through e-commerce.”

“App Addiction” at Record Levels in Indonesia

The Southeast Asian archipelago, with a population of more than 284 million, has one of the highest concentrations of social media users in the world.

In March, the country began enforcing a social media ban for under-16s. The ban aims to protect around 70 million children from the threats of online pornography, cyberbullying, and internet addiction.

The country initially targeted platforms considered “high risk” for children: YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, Bigo Live, and Roblox.

It is stated that this ban will apply to all digital platforms, including e-commerce sites.