Legal Gaps in Regulating Children's Exposure to Harmful Algorithmic Content on Social Media Platforms in Indonesia

Abstract

This article examines legal gaps in regulating children’s exposure to harmful algorithmic content on social media platforms in Indonesia. The discussion is guided by two questions: to what extent are existing Indonesian regulations effective in addressing harmful algorithmic exposure, and why is this issue urgent for child protection and platform accountability. Using a normative legal approach, this study analyzes the Child Protection Law, the Electronic Information and Transactions Law, Government Regulation No. 71 of 2019, Minister of Communication and Informatics Regulation No. 5 of 2020, and the Personal Data Protection Law. The analysis shows that Indonesian law provides an important normative basis for protecting children from harmful online content, but its effectiveness remains fragmented because it does not specifically regulate recommender systems, behavioral profiling, algorithmic amplification, or child-specific platform duties. The article discusses this gap through statutory and conceptual analysis. It finds that Indonesia needs preventive, risk-based, and child-sensitive platform governance to strengthen legal protection in algorithmically mediated social media environments.