Minister Meutya: PP TUNAS Helps Parents Protect Children in Digital Spaces, Not Replace Them

Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs Meutya Hafid has stressed that Government Regulation (PP) Number 17 of 2025 on the Governance of Electronic System Implementation for Child Protection (PP TUNAS) was drafted to help parents protect their children in the digital space, not to replace their role in parenting. In a statement received on Sunday, the government has stipulated that children under the age of 16 are not permitted to have accounts on high-risk social media platforms as part of efforts to shield them from various risks in the digital realm. “This regulation helps parents, it does not replace parents,” Meutya said at the Gerak Bersama Anak Indonesia event in South Jakarta on Sunday. “Children’s rights in the digital domain must be respected by platforms,” she added. According to Meutya, the digital space should be a safe place for children to learn, express themselves, create, and develop. However, she cautioned that the digital space also harbours risks such as addiction, exposure to age-inappropriate content, and threats to children’s physical and mental health. “If you do not want your child to be exposed prematurely, help them delay creating their own account on high-risk social media,” she said. Meutya also called on parents to actively accompany their children when using technology. She noted that while the government continues to push platforms to strengthen user age verification systems, child protection cannot be effective without family involvement. “Regulation cannot work in isolation,” she stated. “Indonesian children must not become victims of algorithms.” She emphasised that children need to be equipped with adequate literacy, guidance, and protection so they can utilise technology to support their future.