Fifty per cent of Indonesian children use the internet, making digital protection in the online realm a necessity

Nearly 50 per cent of Indonesia’s population are children who use the internet. More than 80 per cent of children access the internet for more than seven hours, and 36 per cent of preschool-aged children can already access the internet.

The internet’s impact on children is varied. It can unlock potential, creativity and learning, but there are also negative aspects.

According to SNPHAR 2024 (Survei Nasional Pengalaman Hidup Anak dan Remaja), four in 100 boys and girls have experienced non-contact sexual violence in their lifetimes. Meanwhile, 2.18 per cent of children have experienced non-contact sexual violence in the previous 12 months, and around 5 per cent have experienced non-contact sexual violence before turning 18. Forms include being forced to witness sexual activities, reading texts describing sexual activities, being forced to participate in sexual images or videos, or being asked to send texts, images or videos of sexual activities.

‘I n summary, beyond benefits there are threats and dangers such as online harassment, grooming, misuse of personal data, and others,’ said Ihsan.

Potential impacts of children’s interaction with the digital world include contact with strangers, exposure to harmful content, exploitation as consumers, risk to personal data, addiction, psychological/mental health issues, physiological problems, and becoming victims of online violence.

Ihsan emphasised that when confronted with the digital world, society seems to contend with two rights: the right of children to information and the right to protection. ‘Our orientation is about which way to go; PP Tunas will be the answer to this,’ he asserted.

Gogot Suharwoto, Director General of Early Childhood Education, Primary, and Non-Formal and Informal Education (Kementerian Pendidikan Dasar dan Menengah), explained that on the education side, authorities have strengthened children’s discernment of positive and negative content. ‘What to avoid and what not. Parents who spend a lot of time with their children should be educated and given limits on which digital spaces are accessible. Schools and media are also involved. Most importantly, the government has issued regulations expected to protect children,’ he said.

He added that Kemendikdasmen has set three guidelines for children’s device use: first, screen time; second, screen zone; and third, screen break. ‘Screen time relates to the appropriate time for children to access devices. Many schools have adopted policy to hold devices during school hours. If urgent, a child can request permission from the school. This does not necessarily require government regulation; schools can regulate themselves. Then screen zone – places where devices may be accessed by children. And screen break – areas where devices are not allowed. It is important to reach an agreement with children to avoid excessive device use,’ he stressed.

Separately, Kawiyan, Sub-cluster Lead for Child Protection in the Digital Realm at the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI), emphasised that all parties must push for a new paradigm in digital-age child protection. ‘Previously we waited for cases; now we must focus on prevention from the outset. If the focus was punishment, now it is risk mitigation. Previously children were objects, now they must be subjects. Previously regulations alone, now multi-stakeholder collaboration; previously partial responses, now an ecosystem approach,’ he said.

Jasra Putra, Vice Chair of KPAI, noted that there are still many challenges in protecting Indonesian children today.

Being an Indonesian child today is like treading a path through a dense forest in the digital age.