New Regulations Protect Children in the Digital Space: What Are the Impacts?

When gadget screens become the main window for children to view the world, the boundary between the real and digital spaces is increasingly blurred. On one hand, technology opens unlimited access to knowledge. But on the other, it presents risks no less significant, especially for children still in their formative stages.

These concerns are now being addressed through policy. The government has issued regulations limiting social media access for children under 16, a preventive step that is not only administrative but also touches on psychological aspects of child development. For many parties, this policy signals that the state is beginning to take a more serious role in protecting the young generation in the digital space.

Child psychologist Endang Setianingsih views this policy as an important step in maintaining children’s mental health towards the golden generation of 2045. In early adolescence, children are in a sensitive phase; they are building identity, learning critical thinking, and managing emotions that are not yet fully mature.

In this phase, social media often becomes an exploration space that is too vast without filters. Social pressures, unrealistic standards, and exposure to age-inappropriate content can trigger anxiety, low self-esteem, and even depression. Not a few children are also trapped in digital addiction, a condition that slowly but surely erodes their mental health.

Field data shows that these risks are not mere theoretical concerns. In Batam, for example, many cases of violence against children start from introductions on social media. Interactions that begin in the digital space often continue to meetings in the real world, and in several cases, end in violence or even teenage pregnancies.

This phenomenon underscores that digital space issues are not just about usage duration, but also about safety and protection. Children who lack emotional maturity tend to be more easily influenced, struggle to distinguish risks, and are vulnerable to manipulation.

However, regulations alone are not enough. Experts emphasise that child protection in the digital era requires active involvement from parents and schools. Access restrictions must be accompanied by open communication, consistent guidance, and role-modelling in technology use.

At the local level, such efforts are being translated more contextually. The Bangka Tengah Regency government, for instance, is developing digital education based on local wisdom. This approach not only aims to enhance digital literacy but also to instil cultural values as filters in facing the global flow of information.

This step shows that child protection cannot be separated from social and cultural contexts. Children not only need technological competence but also strong character to filter what they consume in the digital space.

At the family level, monitoring practices are also key. Limiting gadget usage time, accompanying access to content, and building warm communication become simple yet effective strategies. When parents act as companions rather than just controllers, children have a safer space to grow.

Ultimately, the biggest challenge is not stopping the pace of technology, which is nearly impossible, but ensuring children do not lose direction within it. The digital space will continue to evolve, but values, supervision, and awareness must grow faster.

Child protection in the digital era is collective work. The state creates regulations, schools build literacy, parents guide, and society maintains the ecosystem. It is there that the future of the young generation is determined, not only as technology users but as whole, healthy, and empowered individuals.