Indonesia Promotes ‘Seven Great Habits’ Initiative Alongside Under‑16 Social Media Restrictions
Indonesia’s Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has backed new national measures to limit social media access for children under 16, while promoting digital literacy and responsible technology use in schools. The policy sits alongside the government’s Tunas Regulation, which strengthens online child protection and digital governance. Education authorities say schools will play a central role in guiding students’ technology use through supervised learning and initiatives designed to encourage healthier digital habits.
According to an official report, the ministry is supporting implementation of Government Regulation Number 17 of 2025 on the Protection of Electronic System Governance for Child Protection, commonly known as the Tunas Regulation. The policy restricts social media access for children under 16 on platforms considered high risk and requires digital services operating in Indonesia to strengthen protections for younger users.
Education Sector Supports Implementation of Tunas Regulation
Primary and Secondary Education Minister Abdul Mu’ti said the ministry has been involved in the policy from its drafting stage through to public dissemination. The regulation is intended to address growing concerns about the non‑educational use of devices, online gaming, and internet services among children.
Mu’ti said schools will continue to use digital technology for learning, but with structured supervision by teachers. This approach is intended to ensure students gain digital skills while understanding how to use technology responsibly and safely.
The ministry also plans to align digital literacy programmes across educational institutions so that regulatory measures are supported by practical guidance for students and educators. Indonesia has already emphasised a combined strategy of regulation and education to improve online child safety, as outlined in initiatives aimed at strengthening digital awareness and protective frameworks.
Previous policy discussions highlighted how regulatory safeguards, together with public education, can reinforce safer digital environments for young people, an approach described in Indonesia’s efforts to combine regulation and literacy to advance online child safety.
Seven Habits Initiative Encourages Healthier Technology Use
To complement the regulation, the ministry is promoting the Seven Habits Movement for Great Indonesian Children (KAIH). The programme encourages positive behaviours that support children’s development both online and offline.
Part of this effort includes the “Screen Time, Screen Zone, and Screen Break” (3S) approach, which aims to help children manage device use. The framework encourages families and schools to set boundaries around where and how long screens are used, while ensuring regular breaks from digital devices.
Officials believe these initiatives can help maintain a healthy learning environment where students are able to interact with teachers and peers while developing character and critical thinking skills. These competencies are increasingly seen as essential as digital technologies and artificial intelligence become more embedded in everyday life, a point explored in discussions about why critical thinking is key to navigating an AI‑driven future.
Government Signals Strict Compliance for Digital Platforms
The policy also places responsibilities on digital platforms operating in Indonesia. Communication and Digital Affairs Minister Meutya Hafid stated that companies must ensure their products and services comply fully with the new rules.
The government has said it will not compromise on enforcement. Platforms must adjust their features, services, and user protections to meet the requirements of the regulation.
The restrictions follow rising public concern about children’s exposure to harmful online content and digital addiction, including hoaxes, pornography, cyberbullying, and online fraud. Policymakers view stronger governance of digital platforms, combined with education‑based initiatives, as necessary to create safer online environments for young users. Similar policy discussions have highlighted the importance of cooperation between regulators and technology providers to strengthen protections for children online, as examined in Indonesia’s efforts to align regulation with platform support for child online safety.
