KPAI: Digital literacy enhances understanding of "sharenting" risks

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Commission for Child Protection (KPAI) views digital literacy as essential for society to enhance understanding of the risks of sharenting in the digital space. “Parents are the first bastion of child protection in the digital realm. Digital literacy and awareness of sharenting risks are crucial to prevent children from being overly exposed in the public digital space,” said KPAI member Kawiyan when contacted in Jakarta on Thursday. According to him, excessive sharenting practices can increase children’s vulnerability to cyber grooming. Cyber grooming is a form of online-based violence carried out through manipulative approaches by perpetrators towards children for the purposes of sexual exploitation and others. Meanwhile, sharenting is the habit of parents sharing photos, videos, and information about their children on social media or online platforms. KPAI asserts that preventing cyber grooming cannot rely solely on law enforcement approaches but must start from the child’s closest environment, namely the family. However, he notes that there are still challenges in preventing cyber grooming, including low digital literacy among children and parents, and insufficient supervision of children’s gadget use. In addition, there is minimal communication between parents and children regarding digital activities, widespread child interactions on social media platforms without supervision, and weak understanding of digital security and privacy. Cyber grooming generally occurs subtly and is often unnoticed, making it difficult to recognise from the outset, both by the child as the victim and by parents. This situation makes it a serious threat that can impact children’s safety, mental health, and future, thus requiring collective vigilance as well as strengthening digital literacy in families and surrounding communities.