RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesian student in the United Kingdom, Muhammad Fachrul Hudallah, said the Indonesian government’s decision to restrict social media access for children under 16 is not an easy step. He said that children may find other ways to bypass the rules, such as using their parents’ phones and VPNs.

"And, the last one, they may use their friend's phone, and it's really dangerous. It's the hollow gap that we have to understand," he said in a VOI Talk interview on RRI Voice of Indonesia on Wednesday, May 6, 2026.

Earlier this year, Indonesia’s Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs asked several social media platforms considered “high risk” to restrict access for children under 16. This policy is based on Government Regulation Number 17 of 2025 concerning the Governance of Electronic System Operations in Child Protection, commonly known as PP TUNAS.

Fachrul said that it was difficult to ensure that people under the age of 16 could be effectively restricted, and he saw the platforms having misunderstandings on how to regulate them. He even offers an age verification policy via national identity or biometric data, though he already knows the issues behind it.

"However, the problem will arise, like data protection and privacy (issues), and it's really challenging," he said.

According to him, a Sussex University student, Indonesia is "legally prepared but technically and socially underprepared". While regulatory frameworks exist, like PP TUNAS and other regulations, he said that enforcement capacity, technical infrastructure, and public digital literacy are not yet sufficient for effective implementation.

"(However) there are a lot of positive impacts (of PP TUNAS), actually... The children can reduce digital addiction, they may boost their mental health, and the platform can be more responsible," he said, reinforcing his stance about the law's importance despite social challenges.

While the government has imposed age rules, Fachrul sees parents' awareness to protect their children from the negative impacts of social media as important. Therefore, he encouraged parents to play a greater role.

"Logically, like this: If the parents don't give a phone to a child, particularly under 16 years old, they won't have access to the phone, right? This is the obligation (for parents of) how to make sure that children cannot access social media, particularly those under 16," he said.