The Australian government has taken proactive steps by implementing restrictions on social media access for children under the age of 16 as a preventive measure to protect young people's mental health from negative effects such as cyberbullying, anxiety and sleep disturbance caused by social media.
This policy has become an important reference for various countries, including Indonesia, which is considering similar measures to create a safer and healthier digital environment for children.
Imran Pambudi, Director of Mental Health at the Ministry of Health, said the government was considering a possible ban on social media use for children and teenagers. However, he stressed that such a policy would not be implemented in the near future as it would require thorough research.
According to Imran, as quoted by Katadata.co, a temporary measure that can be taken is through education and supervision by parents in monitoring children's social media use. This statement highlights the concerns about the impact of social media on the mental health of children and adolescents in Indonesia.
Indonesia Faces Mental Health Crisis
Mental health issues in Indonesia have become a pressing concern in recent years. According to the Indonesian Health Survey 2023 (SKI), the prevalence of mental disorders among adolescents aged 15 years and older in Indonesia is 2%, with the prevalence of depression at 1.4%.
Even more concerning is the low utilization of mental health services among this group, with only 12.7% reporting seeking treatment.
In line with this, the 2023 Indonesian National Adolescent Mental Health Survey (I-NAMHS) found that about 34.9% of adolescents in Indonesia, or about 15.5 million people, experienced mental health problems in the past year. Anxiety was reported as the most common problem among respondents, The Star reported.
However, only 2.6% of them sought counseling or group support services during this period. Of those who did receive support, 38.2% said they received help through schools, either from teachers or school counselors.
The I-NAMHS study is the result of collaborative research between three institutions: Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta, the University of Queensland in Australia, and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in the United States.
Australia's Strict Ban on Social Media
On November 28, Australia implemented a policy that bans children under the age of 16 from using social media. This policy has drawn attention as one of the strictest regulations on the use of social media. Companies that violate this rule risk fines of up to US$32 million (A$49.5 million).
The Social Media Minimum Age Bill or Online Safety Amendment requires technology companies such as Meta - owner of Instagram and Facebook - as well as TikTok, X/Twitter, Reddit and Snapchat to ensure that children under 16 cannot access their platforms. Companies that fail to prevent underage access will face penalties.
The Australian government plans to begin a pilot to enforce the rule in January 2025, with full implementation by the end of the same year.
The law puts Australia at the forefront of testing age restrictions on social media, amid growing global concerns about their impact on young people's mental health.
In addition, Australia is known as the first country to require social media platforms to pay royalties to media outlets for the distribution of their content, and now plans to introduce sanctions for platforms that fail to address cases of fraud.
