Nezar: Traditional games serve as a pause for children from the digital space
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Deputy Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs Nezar Patria believes that physical games such as egrang can serve as a pause button, helping children maintain emotional balance, social interaction, and mental health.
“Egrang can be one pause button, a break from the high intensity of our immersion in the digital space. Physical games like this provide many lessons on balance, cooperation, and mutual assistance,” he said, quoted from a press release received and confirmed in Jakarta on Sunday.
The traditional egrang game is also considered relevant amid the intense activities of children today, which are closely tied to the digital space.
This is because he sees that the development of digital technology brings many benefits but also presents new challenges for children.
Currently, Indonesia’s internet penetration has reached 80.26% of the population, with around 230 million people connected to the internet and telecommunications networks covering 97% of inhabited areas.
Behind this achievement, Deputy Minister Nezar Patria reminds of the importance of maintaining a balance between digital life and real-world social interactions.
“Now we are no longer just using technology, but living in it. There are many children’s games that are being displaced by the digital space. Egrang remains one that endures because it is preserved together by the community,” he said.
He assesses that child protection in the digital space is not sufficient through digital platform regulations alone, but also requires a healthy social environment in the real world.
“Playing egrang is not just a traditional game. Children return to interacting with their social environment, learn to maintain balance, learn to cooperate, and build courage through real experiences,” he stated.
He also highlighted the character values that emerge from traditional games. In egrang, children learn to get back up when they fall and encourage each other, rather than mocking one another.
Nezar hopes that Indonesian children can grow into a generation that is not only capable of utilising technology but also strong emotionally and socially.
“I believe every Indonesian child can become a healthy shoot, growing well in both the real world and the digital world, for a healthier and greater future for Indonesia,” he expressed.
He added that the spirit of Government Regulation Number 17 of 2025 on the Governance of Electronic System Operators in Child Protection or PP TUNAS must go hand in hand with strengthening families and communities.
The Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs appreciates the Ledokombo Egrang Festival as a cultural and social space that helps children grow healthily amid the increasingly rapid development of digital technology.