MPR praises government's efforts to protect children in the digital world
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Deputy Speaker of the Indonesian People's Consultative Assembly (MPR RI) Lestari Moerdijat praised the government's move to reinforce protection for children in the digital world by delaying access to digital accounts for children under 16.
The policy is in line with Government Regulation No. 17 of 2025 on the Governance of Electronic System Providers in Child Protection (PP Tunas).
“This policy is praiseworthy, as it shows the state's presence in protecting Indonesian children in the digital space. Child protection is not only about safety, but also an important part of the education process and the formation of the nation's character,” Lestari said in a written statement on Saturday.
The Ministry of Communications and Digital previously issued a Ministerial Regulation as a derivative rule from PP Tunas that governs the governance of electronic system providers in child protection.
The regulation gives the government authority to delay access to accounts for children under 16 on high-risk digital platforms, including social media and digital networking services.
The policy's implementation phase will begin on 28 March 2026, with the gradual deactivation of children's accounts on platforms categorised as high-risk.
According to Lestari, the policy should be seen as part of efforts to build a healthy educational ecosystem and digital literacy for Indonesian children.
“As part of the educational process, children need to be protected from exposure to negative content, misinformation, digital violence, and even exploitation practices in cyberspace that could damage their character formation,” Lestari said.
She continued that the digital space has now become one of the main social spaces for children and adolescents. Therefore, she added, the state must also take responsibility in managing the digital space to ensure the continuity of the education process and the shaping of the younger generation's character.
According to Lestari, the success of implementing this policy depends heavily on the support of all parties.
The role of families becomes very important. Parents must be the main companions for children in learning about and using digital technology in a healthy and responsible manner. Therefore, digital literacy for the community must progress in tandem with the implementation of this regulation,” she said.
She hopes the policy will strengthen joint efforts to build a generation of Indonesians who are well‑rounded, mentally healthy, and globally competitive.
“Protecting children in the digital space, in essence, is safeguarding the future of the nation. This policy must be part of a collective movement to ensure the education and development of the next generation proceed in a healthy, safe and dignified manner,” she concluded.