Mendikdasmen backs Minister of Communications and Digital Regulation to limit devices for children

Abdul Mu’ti, the Minister for Primary and Secondary Education, welcomed the regulatory issuance of the Minister of Communications and Digital Regulation No. 9 of 2026 as the implementing regulation for PP TUNAS (Regulation on Governance of Electronic Systems in Child Protection). He said the regulation is part of cross-ministerial synergy to ensure children develop good habits and are protected from heavy gadget use or addiction. ‘We fully support and appreciate the issuance of the Minister of Communications and Digital’s regulation on restricting device use for those under 16,’ Mu’ti said in Central Jakarta on Sunday. He noted that device use can have positive effects on learning, such as access to online learning materials. However, implementation will face technical challenges, including how to ensure children under 16 do not falsify personal identities when creating social media accounts. Therefore, he stressed the need for strict supervision and extensive education from parents and teachers regarding device and social media use for children, including age limits for creating accounts. ‘The challenge is in the technical implementation, especially to ensure they do not falsify identities when creating social media accounts. Therefore, what is needed first is supervision from parents, including age considerations,’ Mu’ti added. He hopes the regulation can prevent cases of device misuse by children while building a more civil culture in social media usage. ‘We hope this protects the younger generation from device misuse and also from internet content that is not educational or aligned with the culture and civilization of our nation,’ Mu’ti said.