Indonesia’s new digital sovereignty move, Government Regulation No. 17 of 2025 (PP TUNAS), aims to protect 80 million young citizens from addictive social media platforms. However, researchers from Monash University argue the decree is a "paper tiger" without technical enforcement. The core challenge lies in the design architecture of modern platforms—infinite scrolls and autoplay videos are engineered to maximize engagement, making it difficult for children to disengage naturally from the digital environment.

Mirroring Australia’s approach, the authors advocate for an independent eSafety Commissioner to act as a neutral arbiter between citizens and Big Tech. This body would implement "Safety by Design," a framework requiring platforms to mitigate risks to children’s rights by default. Implementation faces significant hurdles: Indonesia currently lacks the centralized reporting infrastructure and technical capacity to audit Age Verification (AV) technologies without compromising privacy or collecting excessive biometric data.

To succeed, the government must shift focus from legal mandates to technical realism. This includes investing in privacy-preserving verification and training digital forensics investigators. Without consistent enforcement across all platforms, the regulation risks losing credibility. Protecting the "Golden Generation" requires a digital ecosystem where platforms are held accountable for the algorithmic environments they create.

Indonesia’s new digital sovereignty move, Government Regulation No. 17 of 2025 (PP TUNAS), aims to protect 80 million young citizens from addictive social media platforms. However, researchers from Monash University argue the decree is a "paper tiger" without technical enforcement. The core challenge lies in the design architecture of modern platforms—infinite scrolls and autoplay videos are engineered to maximize engagement, making it difficult for children to disengage naturally from the digital environment.

Mirroring Australia’s approach, the authors advocate for an independent eSafety Commissioner to act as a neutral arbiter between citizens and Big Tech. This body would implement "Safety by Design," a framework requiring platforms to mitigate risks to children’s rights by default. Implementation faces significant hurdles: Indonesia currently lacks the centralized reporting infrastructure and technical capacity to audit Age Verification (AV) technologies without compromising privacy or collecting excessive biometric data.

To succeed, the government must shift focus from legal mandates to technical realism. This includes investing in privacy-preserving verification and training digital forensics investigators. Without consistent enforcement across all platforms, the regulation risks losing credibility. Protecting the "Golden Generation" requires a digital ecosystem where platforms are held accountable for the algorithmic environments they create.