Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs Urges Parents to Supervise Children's Technology Use

The Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Kemkomdigi) has reminded parents of the importance of supervising their children when accessing technology to prevent various risks in the digital space. Bonifasius Wahyu Pudjianto, Head of the Ministry’s Human Resources Development Agency (BPSDM), stated that children are allowed to use technology but must be monitored and guided by their parents. “Children must be protected from digital technology. They can hold the devices, but ideally they should not be left alone to face the risks of technology,” Bonifasius said during the launch of the ‘Tunggu Anak Siap’ (Wait Until the Child is Ready) programme in South Jakarta on Friday. He noted that technology is fundamentally a tool that can provide benefits, but its use must be directed to prevent misuse. As part of efforts to protect children in the digital space, the government has implemented Government Regulation Number 17 of 2025 on Electronic System Governance for Child Protection (PP Tunas), which prioritises the principle of ‘Tunggu Anak Siap’ in accessing digital platforms. Beyond the family, Bonifasius emphasised the responsibility of digital platforms to protect children from negative risks. He urged platforms to ensure that underage children cannot access services that are inappropriate for them. “Platforms are responsible for ensuring that children who are not of the appropriate age do not enter social media or other platforms that are off-limits to children,” he said. Bonifasius also called on schools and communities to play a role in protecting children in the digital space by strengthening digital literacy. According to him, digital literacy should not be limited to training sessions but must become a habit taught to children continuously. “Digital literacy is not enough as just training material; it must become a habit. It must be taught continuously: how to protect data, how to interact on the internet, how to recognise harmful content, and how to seek help if something happens,” Bonifasius explained.