Excessive gadget use can have negative impacts on children's health
Jakarta (ANTARA) - A member of the Indonesian Paediatric Society (IDAI), Tuty Herawati, stated that excessive long-term use of gadgets can have adverse effects on children’s health.
“If viewed superficially, it might only appear as a change in posture, such as slouching. However, it can be related to the nervous system, so this is not something that should be taken lightly,” she said during an iftar event with the Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs held in Jakarta on Tuesday (17/3).
As quoted in a government press release on Wednesday, she explained that excessive gadget exposure during crucial child growth phases, from ages five to 15, can affect children’s development.
Excessive and unsupervised long-term gadget use can increase the likelihood of posture, muscle, and neural function problems in children, some of which may persist into adulthood.
According to Tuty, the risk of developmental disorders in children due to excessive gadget use depends on the intensity and duration of gadget usage, as well as the balance with other activities.
The chances of developmental disorders are estimated to be lower in children who remain physically active, have sufficient time for outdoor play, and participate in sports, compared to those who continuously use gadgets.
Tuty stated that the implementation of Government Regulation No. 17 of 2025 on the Governance of Electronic Systems in Child Protection, or PP Tunas, can strengthen efforts to protect children from the negative impacts of digital technology devices.
She said that the regulation’s implementation could have an optimal impact for children’s well-being if families actively support it by regulating, accompanying, and supervising children’s gadget use.
“During the golden age, a child’s brain is very open to various stimuli. But if they only receive the same things repeatedly, other abilities will not be stimulated,” she said.
According to her, a lack of varied stimulation to the child’s brain can lead to suboptimal brain development, resulting in a condition called brain drop.
Digital content such as games or repetitive shows can cause children to focus only on one type of stimulus, thereby neglecting the development of other abilities.
“What develops the brain is not its size, but the number of connections between nerves. Those connections are formed from varied experiences and stimuli,” said Prof. Rose.
“Children need diverse experiences for their brain connections to develop optimally. Technology can be utilised, but it should not be the only source of stimulation,” she explained.