Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — The Indonesian government is considering new regulations to restrict social media usage, particularly for children. The proposal aligns with measures adopted in several other countries aimed at safeguarding minors in digital spaces.
Minister of Communications and Digital Affairs (Komdigi), Meutya Hafid, disclosed the initiative following discussions with President Prabowo Subianto about strategies to protect children in the digital realm. Hafid stated that a government regulation would serve as the initial framework for these restrictions.
“We intend to study this thoroughly first. However, as a preliminary step, the government will issue regulations while preparing more comprehensive policies,” Hafid said during a broadcast on the Presidential Secretariat’s YouTube channel on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, as reported by CNBC Indonesia.
Hafid emphasized that implementing these regulations would require extensive research, including studies on protecting children from potential risks associated with social media platforms.
President Prabowo’s Support
Deputy Minister of Communications and Digital Affairs, Nezar Patria, revealed that President Prabowo Subianto has expressed strong support for the initiative. According to Nezar, the president is particularly concerned about creating a safe and healthy digital environment for children.
“President Prabowo has shown positive interest in this proposal as he deeply cares about how children engage with digital spaces,” Nezar states on Wednesday, as reported by Tirto.
The ministry is currently assessing the feasibility of introducing age restrictions for social media use, a measure inspired by similar regulations in countries like Australia.
Read also : Australia Plans to Ban Social Media For Children, Protect Minors Online
“We’re conducting a thorough review because, as we all know, social media has both positive and negative impacts. There have been numerous complaints about issues like the misuse of AI, which negatively affects children,” Nezar added.
The ministry is gathering input from various stakeholders, including the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection (PPPA) and the National Commission for Women and Children, to ensure a well-rounded approach.
PPPA Ministry’s Role
The Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection has voiced support for restricting children’s access to gadgets and social media. The ministry has proposed related measures to the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, including a recommendation to eliminate school assignments that require the use of digital devices.
Minister Arifah Fauzi highlighted concerns over excessive reliance on gadgets for educational purposes, noting that teachers often communicate assignments via messaging platforms like WhatsApp.
“We’ve proposed to the Minister of Basic and Secondary Education that schools stop assigning homework through gadgets and return to traditional, manual methods. Right now, everything is done through WhatsApp,” Fauzi said during a press briefing at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Tuesday, January 14, 2025.
Indonesian Parliament Weighs
The Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) has echoed support for the government’s proposal to restrict social media usage for children. Deputy Speaker of the DPR RI, Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, stated that the parliament is currently reviewing the idea, which has been under discussion between Minister of Communications and Digital Affairs Meutya Hafid and President Prabowo Subianto.
According to Dasco, the DPR has already considered the proposal and plans to conduct a more in-depth discussion on the matter. “The government and the legislature will thoroughly examine and discuss this together,” Dasco said at the Parliamentary Complex in Jakarta on Tuesday, as reported by Antara.
He added that the review would assess both the positive and negative impacts of limiting social media usage, as well as the potential benefits. Dasco noted that several other countries have already implemented age-based restrictions on social media access.
Role of Parents in Oversight
Furthermore, Deputy Minister of Communications and Digital Affairs, Nezar Patria, emphasized that parental support is crucial for the success of these efforts. Nezar urged parents and families to take a more active role in monitoring their children’s use of social media at home.
He encouraged parents to keep a close watch on their children’s online activities, particularly their exposure to potentially harmful content that could negatively affect their education and well-being.
“Parents should actively monitor, for instance, whether their child’s account is being used to access content that could be harmful or detrimental to their school performance,” Nezar said.
(Raidi/Agung)
