Minister of Basic and Secondary Education asks providers to screen social media usage

Makassar (ANTARA) - The Minister of Basic and Secondary Education (Mendikdasmen) Abdul Mu’ti has asked telecommunications providers to help the government restrict access or usage of social media, particularly for those under 16 years old.

At the Muhammadiyah Sulsel Syawalan event in Makassar on Saturday, Mendikdasmen Abdul Mu’ti emphasised that his side is not banning social media usage but that restrictions are necessary to protect children from its negative impacts.

“The Tunas PP (Government Regulation No. 17 of 2025 on the Governance of Electronic Systems in Child Protection) has been issued, along with a joint decree from six ministers on social media usage regulations. The content is not that we are banning social media use, but restricting it. And those who can do that are the providers,” he said.

He explained that the providers can then screen the age groups that become users of various services.

In addition to providers and strengthening regulations, the Ministry of Education also requests support from parents to provide supervision so that these children receive attention, especially when using social media at home.

Moreover, he said, self-censorship must now be implemented with devices.

“Yes, that censorship must come from oneself and also from the closest family,” he said.