Minister: National Children's Day Momentum to Strengthen Digital Protection Regulation

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Minister of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection (PPP A) Arifah Fauzi hopes the 2026 National Children’s Day commemoration can serve as momentum to strengthen the implementation of Government Regulation Number 17 of 2025 concerning Governance and Child Protection in Digital Spaces (PP Tunas).

“From the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs, there is already a ministerial regulation stating that children under 16 years old are not permitted to have their own social media accounts,” said Minister Arifah Fauzi at a press conference for National Children’s Day (HAN) 2026 in Jakarta on Tuesday.

PP Tunas restricts access for children under 16 to high-risk digital platforms in order to protect them from harmful content, exploitation, and digital addiction.

Not only the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Komdigi), but the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen) has also recently issued Circular Letter Number 18 of 2026 on Restricting the Use of Gadgets in Educational Institutions.

Minister Arifah Fauzi also emphasised the importance of education and literacy on child protection in digital spaces. This effort is important given that many parents still practise parenting by using gadgets.

Yet this can become a loophole for children to access content they should not be consuming.

“Many parents are unaware that when they give their children gadgets — and perhaps the parents feel they have given the best if the gadget is the most advanced, the latest model — they are actually giving children the opportunity to see things that children should not be consuming,” said Minister Arifah Fauzi.