Indonesia to restrict social media access for children under 16, minister says

11 Sept 23:53 Key points summarised by AI

Indonesia will restrict social media access for children under 16, aiming to reduce risks like addiction, cyberbullying, and online fraud.
Effective March 28, a new ministerial regulation will gradually deactivate accounts of children under 16 on platforms such as TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and Roblox.
This initiative makes Indonesia the first non-Western country to impose such restrictions, reflecting growing global concerns over social media's impact on minors' safety and mental health.
The move aligns with similar actions taken by countries like Australia, Spain, and Malaysia, which have also introduced curbs on social media for underage users.

Examining Thailand’s four-part education revolution

Yesterday 14:22 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand's Education Ministry is implementing a four-pronged strategy to address its students' below-average performance in PISA 2025 and tackle significant educational inequality.
The plan prioritizes closing performance gaps by increasing funding for small and low-income schools, overhauling the curriculum to foster critical thinking, and adopting a data-driven management system to reduce teacher workload.
Key initiatives include enhancing school safety, combating cyberbullying, and expanding mental health support through peer-to-peer networks, recognizing the severe impact of distress on academic performance.
An education expert advises verifying if PISA improvements stem from structural changes, advocating for a revived STEM curriculum with practical 'learn by doing' methods, and urging bureaucratic reform to link teacher evaluations to student development.