Indonesia – YouTube has agreed to comply with Indonesia’s new online regulations for children below the age of 16, Communications and Digital Minister Meutya Hafid said during a press conference.
According to Reuters, YouTube has submitted a “letter of compliance” to the ministry, outlining steps it will take under the new rules.
“YouTube has also outlined plans to deactivate these accounts (under 16) and will eliminate advertisements targeting children and teenagers in the future,” she said, as quoted by Reuters.
The move follows broader updates to YouTube’s guidelines, with multiple media reports noting that the platform will also cease targeted advertising for children.
Meanwhile, Danny Ardianto, Head of Government Affairs and Public Policy for YouTube in Asia Pacific, said the company “is in line with the commitment of the Indonesian government to continue supporting children’s protection”.
The development comes after Indonesia issued a reprimand to Google earlier this month, citing YouTube’s lack of cooperation with social media restrictions that took effect in March.
Minister Hafid said on Thursday (April 9) that YouTube had yet to meet the requirements of the new law or provide a clear compliance plan, according to CNA.
Under the regulation, Indonesia requires platforms it classifies as “high-risk” to deactivate accounts belonging to users under 16.
“There’s no other choice from the Indonesian government to tolerate them … and now we’re moving on to sanctions. And that sanction is a letter of reprimand,” Meutya said, as CNA reported.
YouTube is among the platforms designated as high-risk, alongside Roblox, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Threads, X, and Bigo Live.
Most recently, Roblox has also introduced new content and communication controls for users under 16 in Indonesia, as the platform moves to align with the country’s tightening rules on children’s access to social media.
