Aspiring Diplomat Steven Deems Children's Social Media Restrictions Appropriate

Steven Steffandy Sepiner, a student at SMPN I Mentarang in Malinau Regency, North Kalimantan Province, considers the government’s move to issue regulations restricting social media use for children under 16 years old to be highly appropriate. Steven expressed this view in relation to the implementation of Government Regulation (PP) No. 17 of 2025 on the Governance of Electronic Systems in Child Protection (PP TUNAS) and Minister of Communication and Digital Regulation (Permenkomdigi) No. 9 of 2026 as its implementing rules. “In my opinion, PP TUNAS and the social media restrictions for children under 16 are already appropriate and relevant, as they can protect children from negative content and improve concentration in learning,” Steven stated via a short message on Saturday. However, according to Steven, a ninth-grade student at SMPN I Mentarang in Malinau Regency, the main challenge the government must face is that many children still falsify their age when creating accounts. Of course, according to this Star Buddy SMP Malinau Regency 2025 recipient, social media restrictions for children have quite significant benefits. From an individual perspective, he said, he and other children can be better protected from negative content that could influence behaviour and, of course, more focused on education and personal development such as exploring potential and talents. “From an environmental perspective, our direct social interactions can be more polite and courteous towards others, thus making relationships with family and friends closer, of course,” he added. For the future, he continued, it will not be easy to be influenced by negative information such as hoaxes due to digital literacy from parents and the government starting before the age of 16. In addition, with these restrictions, children can use technology more wisely and productively, such as seeking learning media on digital platforms judiciously. The government through the Ministry of Communication and Digital (Kemenkomdigi) has issued Permenkomdigi No. 9 of 2026 as the implementing regulation of PP No. 17 of 2025 on the Governance of Electronic Systems in Child Protection. This PP and Permenkomdigi will take effect from 28 March 2026 with steps to deactivate accounts of children under 16 years old on high-risk digital platforms in accordance with applicable provisions.