Minister urges parents to help children develop healthy digital habits

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3 hours ago

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Communications and Digital Affairs Minister Meutya Hafid has urged parents and educators to help children develop healthy digital habits and maintain a balance between online activities and physical activities outdoors.

As quoted in a government press statement received here on Saturday, she emphasized the need for parents and educators to encourage children to engage in activities such as sports and cycling, build friendships, and develop their talents through various outdoor activities.

“I encourage parents and educators to help foster healthy digital habits. Guidance must go hand in hand with efforts to create opportunities for children to learn, play, exercise, and interact face-to-face,” she said.

The minister spoke with students during an outreach event on Government Regulation No. 17 of 2025 on the Governance of Electronic Systems for Child Protection, known as PP TUNAS, in Tabanan, Bali, on Friday (10/9).

At the event, she engaged with students from several elementary and junior high schools in Tabanan and interacted with members of a cycling community who attended to demonstrate the benefits of engaging in physical activities together as a community.

The minister explained that the digital space offers opportunities for learning but also poses risks. Therefore, children’s use of digital platforms must be tailored to their age and level of readiness.

The government introduced PP TUNAS to protect children from risks associated with using digital platforms that are not appropriate for their age and level of maturity.

The regulation includes restrictions on access to high-risk digital platforms for children under the age of 16.

“It is not that they are forbidden from driving a car for the rest of their lives, but they must wait until they are ready because roads are dangerous for young children. The same applies to social media and online games, which we consider high-risk,” the minister said.

She reminded students to exercise caution when interacting with strangers in the digital space and to be alert to crimes such as fraud, cyberbullying, and online grooming that could lead to child exploitation.

She said children need to understand the risks associated with digital platforms before engaging in online activities and interactions.

“Protecting children requires more than simply setting age limits. Children need to understand the reasons behind these rules so they can recognize risks and make safer decisions when using technology,” she said.

The minister also explained that PP TUNAS was developed using a risk-based approach.

Digital platforms are responsible for complying with child protection requirements based on the risk profiles of their services.

Meanwhile, parents and teachers are expected to guide children, explain limits on technology use, and help them address problems that arise in the digital space.