Children Struggling to Filter Information on Social Media, Vulnerable to Online Content Influence

BEKASI — Most children are assessed as still having difficulty filtering information they encounter on social media. Consequently, various content circulating on the internet can easily influence children’s thinking patterns and behaviour. “Usually children can only receive information without managing it wisely. Out of the many children who have social media accounts, only a handful can filter content,” said teacher Vivi Sukmawati from Bekasi city when asked by Kompas.com on Monday, 16 March 2026.

This condition makes children more vulnerable to being influenced by various content circulating on the internet, both in terms of their thinking patterns and daily behaviour. Vivi believed that social media usage among students could be minimised by replacing the learning process with more directed methods. “Learning can actually be obtained anywhere,” Vivi said.

According to her, schools could also utilise technology devices collectively, for instance through the use of Smart TVs in classrooms to support interactive learning, particularly for subjects requiring digital media. Vivi expressed her support for plans to restrict social media usage for children under 16 years of age. According to her, the current freedom of social media access has instead caused some children to use digital platforms without clear boundaries. “The freedom that exists instead makes children become uncontrolled and without definite rules,” Vivi said.

She added that age restrictions on social media usage could be a fairly effective measure because children above 15 years old begin to develop the ability to understand and filter the information they receive. Nevertheless, Vivi believed that such policy still requires strict supervision to prevent misuse. “But it must still include guidance. Children under 16 could potentially create accounts with manipulated ages,” she said.