Education Expert Reveals Secrets to Prevent Children from Becoming Addicted to Gadgets
Several residents in Bandar Lampung support the government’s policy restricting social media platform access for children under 16 years old, but stress the importance of strengthening digital literacy for parents and children to make the policy effective.
The policy, which will be implemented starting 28 March 2026 based on Ministerial Regulation on Communication and Digital Affairs (Permen Komdigi) Number 9 of 2026, aims to protect children from exposure to harmful content and reduce gadget addiction.
This policy also strengthens Government Regulation Number 17 of 2025 on the Governance of Electronic System Operators in Child Protection (PP Tunas).
Oktavia, a Bandar Lampung resident with a child under 16, expressed her support for the government policy. “The government’s aim is very good to protect children,” she said in Bandar Lampung on Saturday. However, she added that the policy’s success cannot rely solely on blocking, but must be accompanied by strengthening digital literacy for parents and children.
In agreement, Erica, another Bandar Lampung resident, emphasised the need for understanding digital ethics, digital security, and the ability to utilise digital spaces beneficially. “Parents need to be given understanding so that when children reach legal age, they are not confused,” she said. According to Erica, current digital literacy among the public is still low, resulting in many becoming passive consumers without understanding the risks and ethics of social media use.
Child education expert from the State Islamic University Prof KH Saifuddin Zuhri Purwokerto, Prof Fauzi, assessed the social media access restriction as an appropriate preventive and curative step. “The digital era is a reality that cannot be avoided. We must address it wisely,” he said in Purwokerto on Saturday.
Prof Fauzi explained that digital technology brings two sides: ease of information access and learning opportunities on one hand, and potential negative impacts such as addiction and exposure to harmful content on the other. He stressed that restrictions must be accompanied by strengthening awareness of the function and impact of technology use. Additionally, regulations should target content producers to prevent loopholes in exploiting children as a target market.
Minister of Basic and Secondary Education (Mendikdasmen) Abdul Mu’ti reminded of the importance of teachers’ roles in strengthening digital literacy in educational units. “All teachers in basic and secondary education have a very important role,” he asserted in Jakarta on Saturday.