Indonesia plans to issue a regulation to set a minimum age for users of social media, a move aimed at protecting children, its communications minister has said.

Indonesia intends to implement interim child protection guidelines for social media companies, amid efforts to legislate a minimum age for users. This follows Australia's lead in safeguarding minors online and aims to balance protection with access to information for underage internet users.

Indonesia plans to impose interim child protection guidelines on social media companies while the government works on a law to set a minimum age limit to use the platforms, Reuters reported, citing a senior official from the communications ministry.

Thousands of islanders are set to be evacuated after a volcano erupted in eastern Indonesia, spewing a towering column of smoke and ash into the atmosphere, officials said Wednesday.

This is the spectacular moment the Mount Ibu volcano erupted, sending a towering column of ash skywards in Indonesia today. Footage shows thick grey smoke billowing thousands of feet into the air, leaning towards the west and northwest in West Halmahera Regency,