Commission VIII supports restrictions on instant AI and social media for children

Atalia Praratya, a member of Commission VIII of the Indonesian House of Representatives, has backed government policy restricting children’s access to instant artificial intelligence and social media as an important step to protect youth development in the digital era.

The policy is outlined in a Joint Ministerial Decree from seven ministers regarding Guidelines for Utilising Digital Technology and Artificial Intelligence in Education, and Minister of Communication and Digital Regulation (Permenkomdigi) Number 9 of 2026, derived from Government Regulation Number 17 of 2025 on the Administration of Electronic Systems in Child Protection (TUNAS).

Speaking in Jakarta on Sunday, Atalia stated that the regulations aim to maintain balance between technology utilisation and protecting children from the negative impacts of digital spaces.

“Digital technology and artificial intelligence are inevitable in our era. However, we must not allow children to access them without limits and without guidance,” said Atalia.

Under the policy, the government restricts generative AI use among primary to secondary school students, including services such as ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude, to prevent negative impacts on children’s cognitive development.

Atalia views the restriction as important for promoting learning processes that maintain emphasis on independent critical thinking.

“Children need to learn the thinking process, not simply receive instant answers from machines. If the thinking process is skipped, it risks creating a generation that quickly obtains answers but is weak in understanding problems,” she stated.

Beyond AI restrictions, the government is also implementing social media access controls for children under 16 years old through Permenkomdigi Number 9 of 2026. Account enforcement for children on various digital platforms, including YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, Bigo Live and Roblox, is planned to be carried out in stages beginning on 28 March 2026.

This approach aligns with global policy trends that increasingly tighten social media access for children to protect their mental health and digital security.

UNICEF data shows that over 70 per cent of school-age children have been exposed to the internet from an early age. Meanwhile, research by Common Sense Media notes that children aged 8 to 12 years spend an average of approximately five hours per day in front of digital screens.

Atalia believes the regulations must be accompanied by strengthened digital literacy efforts for parents, teachers and students to ensure technology use remains healthy and responsible.

“The purpose of this policy is not to ban technology, but to ensure our children are mentally, intellectually and socially prepared before truly entering the complex digital world,” she said.

She also encouraged the gradual development of AI learning curricula and the provision of child-friendly digital education platforms so that technology can be utilised productively without creating dependency.