Bali's Dinsos P3A urges parents to monitor children in the digital space

Denpasar (ANTARA) - Bali’s Social Services Agency for Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection (Dinsos P3A) has urged parents to monitor their children in the digital realm. “The role of parents is very important and forms part of their obligations in supervising children in the digital domain, including parents giving approval for the use of certain applications by children,” said the Head of Dinsos P3A Bali, AA Sagung Mas Dwipayani. Sagung Mas stated this in Denpasar on Monday, in response to the effective implementation of Government Regulation (PP) No. 17 of 2025 on the Governance of Electronic Systems in Child Protection (PP TUNAS). Dinsos P3A Bali views PP TUNAS as a strategic regulation for child protection efforts amid the current situation where children cannot be separated from the use of digital technology, both for learning and social interaction. “Without strong regulations, children are highly vulnerable to various risks such as cyberbullying, exploitation, and exposure to age-inappropriate content,” she said. However, even though regulations to limit inappropriate activities for children in the digital space have been introduced, the role of parents remains indispensable. In particular, Dinsos P3A Bali frequently receives complaints where social media is used as a tool for crimes such as child grooming, leading to sexual violence—both online video-based and physical—against children in Bali. There are also cases involving children in sextortion, as well as indoctrination into intolerance and radicalism through social media. “We have also received complaints about children involved in Online Gender-Based Violence (KBGO), exploitation, and cyberbullying involving derogatory comments about physical appearance, character, or the dissemination of shared content via social media,” she said. “Therefore, we continue to promote increased digital literacy, strengthening the role of parents, and education for children to use social media more wisely and safely. Our approach is not to prohibit, but to educate and accompany so that children can still utilise technology positively without sacrificing their safety and protection,” she added. Dinsos P3A Bali believes that parents’ steps can begin with building open communication with children, creating a comfortable atmosphere so that children are willing to share their social media activities, including if they experience unpleasant things. Then, providing accompaniment that goes beyond mere supervision by knowing what services the child uses, with whom they interact, and the type of content accessed, without making the child feel overly monitored. “Establish clear rules for gadget and social media use, enhance family digital literacy, and instil character values and critical thinking in children, so they are not easily influenced by invitations, doctrines, or misleading information on social media,” she said.