Ministry of Communication and Digital Launches Digital Literacy Declaration to Support Child Protection Regulation
The Ministry of Communication and Digital (Kemkomdigi) has inaugurated the ‘Digital Literacy School Declaration’ to support the implementation of the Child Protection in the Digital Space Regulation (PP Tunas). The declaration, commemorating National Children’s Day, was read by representatives from eight schools alongside the Minister.
Minister of Communication and Digital Meutya Hafid stated that the initiative aims to ensure children are not only digitally proficient but also capable of balancing their online and offline lives. “We want these children to be digitally savvy, but at the same time, being digitally savvy means they can balance their virtual life with their daily life with parents, friends, and peers,” Meutya said at the event in Jakarta on Tuesday.
The schools committed to supporting the PP Tunas by fostering responsible digital citizens who can protect their personal data, reject cyberbullying, and understand that child protection in the digital space is a shared responsibility between schools, families, the community, and the government.
Meutya stressed that protecting children online requires more than just limiting access based on age. She called on digital platforms to transform themselves into safe and child-friendly spaces. “We are giving platforms time to improve themselves so that content such as pornography, online gambling, and other digital crimes, as well as features that make it difficult for children to sleep and concentrate, are addressed first,” she explained.
The minister highlighted the dangers of contact features on digital platforms that allow unknown adults to communicate with children without parental or teacher knowledge, leading to potential crimes such as child grooming. As a result, the government is delaying access to high-risk social media for children under 16.
Meutya also reminded everyone that children need real-world interactions with family and friends to grow into socially and emotionally healthy individuals. “Being digitally savvy does not mean living only in the digital world. Children still need to play in the field, play with their friends, and interact with their parents and siblings,” she said.
The eight schools participating in the declaration were SD Labschool FIP-UMJ, SMPN 208 East Jakarta, SMP Labschool Kebayoran, SMP Santa Theresia Jakarta, SMPN 11 South Jakarta, SMPN 19 South Jakarta, SMPN 29 South Jakarta, and SMPN 216 Central Jakarta.