Southeast Asia wants children off social media. Will it work?

AdvertisementSocial mediaThis Week in AsiaLifestyle & CultureSoutheast Asia wants children off social media. Will it work?Indonesia is leading a regional push to ban children from social media platforms. Enforcement is another matter, however 4-MIN READ4-MIN ListenKolette LimandIman Muttaqin YusofPublished: 10:00am, 19 Apr 2026Malaysian comedian Rizal van Geyzel keeps his three children – aged six, 14 and 15 – off social media. He calls it a “gateway drug” to fake news, pornography, stalkers and doom-scrolling. “Do I risk them resenting me? Sure, but these are the sacrifices of parents for their children’s mental health and physical safety,” the 43-year-old said. Across Southeast Asia, governments are increasingly siding with parents like him. Indonesia last month became the first country in the region to bar under-16s from major social media platforms. Malaysia and the Philippines are considering similar moves.AdvertisementBut as the bans spread, an uncomfortable question follows close behind: can governments actually make them work? All digital platforms operating in the country have been instructed to comply with the ban, which kicked in on March 28, according to Indonesia’s Communication and Digital Affairs Minister Meutya Hafid. Implementation would be carried out progressively, with “no compromise on compliance”, she said. The Roblox logo is seen reflected in a 10-year-old boy’s eyes while he uses an iPad in Jakarta, Indonesia. Photo: ReutersMalaysia has said it plans to bar children aged 16 and under from social media this year, and lawmakers in the Philippines called for similar legislation just a day after Indonesia’s ban came into effect.AdvertisementSelect VoiceSelect Speed0.8x0.9x1.0x1.1x1.2x1.5x1.75x00:0000:001.00x