Kepri Governor: PP Tunas Protects Children from Negative Impacts of Social Media

Batam (ANTARA) - The Governor of Riau Islands (Kepri), Ansar Ahmad, supports the implementation of Government Regulation Number 17 of 2025 on the Governance of Electronic Systems in Child Protection (PP Tunas) as an effort to protect children from the negative impacts of social media.

According to him, the policy has positive objectives in guiding children’s use of technology to avoid exposure to harmful content.

“I think if this policy has positive aims, it’s very good, so we can channel children and they are not overly influenced by the negative side of social media,” he stated when confirmed in Batam on Sunday.

PP Tunas, which comes into effect on 28 March 2026, regulates restrictions on access for children under 16 years old to risky content and digital platforms.

Ansar believes that child protection cannot rely solely on regulations but requires joint roles from the government, families, and society.

“Everyone must protect each other. The government is preparing the young generation from an early age through various programmes, from health to education. But if hindering factors are not anticipated, those programmes will not be optimal,” he said.

He cited various challenges faced by children today, from the misuse of technology to other threats such as drug trafficking that already targets those under 16 years old.

Ansar also emphasised that the implementation of PP Tunas will be further reviewed with various parties to ensure it hits the mark.

“We will review PP Tunas together; we will discuss it in a meeting in Kepri. We want society to be smart in using technology, but literacy must also be maintained so that the negative impacts are not greater than the benefits,” said Governor Ansar Ahmad.

He hopes that through this policy, the young generation in Riau Islands can grow healthier, smarter, and more resilient amid the development of the digital era.