Building Character Sovereignty in the Algorithm Era

Digital access restrictions will become empty spaces if not filled with character substance. Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia is facing a civilisational crossroads. On one side, society is confronted by the siege of increasingly addictive digital algorithms. On the other, the government is striving to build the character foundation for the young generation through the 7 Habits of Great Indonesian Children (7 KAIH) programme. The Ministry of Communication and Digital’s (Komdigi) step to tighten device restrictions for children is not merely a technical policy. This regulation is viewed as a defence fortress for the mental sovereignty of future generations. Government Regulation No. 17 of 2025 on the Governance of Electronic System Operators in Child Protection (PP TUNAS) regulates device restrictions for children based on the 3S principle: Screen Time (device usage duration is limited, especially for children under 16 years old); Screen Break (mandatory breaks to prevent continuous screen staring); and Screen Zone (device usage areas are regulated, for example, not used in bedrooms or places of worship). The government emphasises that PP TUNAS does not prohibit children from using devices, but rather limits them proportionally so as not to disrupt growth, development, and character formation. However, digital access restrictions will become empty spaces if not filled with character substance. Here, the synergy between digital regulation and the implementation of 7 KAIH becomes crucial to usher in the dawn of the Golden Generation 2045. Challenge: Between Screens and Character. Several studies show that excessive device exposure in children correlates with decreased resilience and identity crises. The Minister of Komdigi’s policy emerges as an “emergency brake” so that children do not become captives of the virtual world. When screens begin to be limited, the values of 7 KAIH must be brought to life as a new lifestyle in schools and homes. The 7 Habits of Great Indonesian Children programme, initiated by the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, is a fundamental breakthrough based on divinity. Its aim is to prepare a generation that is pious, resilient, independent, and characterised by Indonesian culture. Without a character foundation, children risk growing into unsympathetic, antisocial, selfish individuals, and mere followers of digital civilisation. Therefore, digital regulation and character habituation must run hand in hand. Philosophical Correlation