Doctor highlights risks of digital content exposure on child development
Jakarta — Paediatrician Bernie Endyarni Medise has highlighted the risks of excessive exposure to digital content, including material generated using artificial intelligence (AI), on child development.
“Many adults are unfamiliar with AI, especially visual forms. Sometimes we struggle to determine whether information is accurate or not. Children, meanwhile, we cannot imagine how they process such content,” Bernie said during an Editorial Discussion event in Jakarta on Thursday, 12 March.
“AI draws vast amounts of data from the internet and presents information based on what is most popular or frequently used. This can be dangerous if not properly filtered,” she said, as cited in a government press release.
Online games such as Roblox and Minecraft, which are widely played by children, also present risks, according to her. “For children, they sometimes feel these games are genuinely real worlds,” she said.
She therefore urged parents to exercise caution in giving children access to digital devices and platforms.
According to her, children under five years old should not be given access to digital devices, whilst older children should have limited access. “If children are allowed unrestricted access to mobile devices and the internet, the behaviour they develop will mirror what they see on social media,” she said.
To protect children from the negative effects of digital platform use, the Ministry of Communication and Digital Regulation Number 9 of 2026 on the Implementation of Government Regulation Number 17 of 2025 on Digital Ecosystem Governance for Child Protection (PP Tunas) is being introduced in phases beginning 28 March 2026.
Indonesian Child Protection Commission commissioner Kawiyan said the regulation, which includes restrictions on children’s access to digital platforms, has been introduced to protect children from exposure to negative content such as pornography, cyberbullying and online scams.
“Children aged 13 to 16 years may have accounts on low-risk platforms with parental consent. Meanwhile, adolescents aged 16 to 18 years may have accounts on digital platforms with parental consent,” he explained.
He cited 2025 data showing that in Indonesia, more than 42 per cent of children use mobile phones and more than 41 per cent have accessed the internet, but only approximately 28 per cent of children are supervised by parents while using the internet.
Additionally, 48 per cent of children reported experiencing cyberbullying, 50 per cent of children have been exposed to sexual content on social media, and 32 per cent of children have shared personal information with strangers online. Kawiyan also noted that 197,054 children have been victims of online gambling.
“Other cases that have emerged include the recruitment of children by radical groups through online games, digital sexual exploitation and gaming addiction affecting mental health and academic performance,” he said.
Consequently, he stated, the government is implementing regulations to restrict children’s access to high-risk digital platforms.
The government has requested mass media support for publicising the regulations and monitoring digital platforms’ compliance, which includes implementing age verification systems and removing accounts of children under 16 years old on high-risk digital platforms.
“Through this regulation, the government hopes to create a safer digital space for Indonesian children whilst strengthening parents’ role in monitoring their children’s digital activities,” Kawiyan said.