Palangka Raya City Government Supports Social Media Restrictions for Children
Palangka Raya (ANTARA) - The Palangka Raya City Government in Central Kalimantan (Kalteng) supports the Ministry of Communication and Digital’s (Komdigi) policy restricting social media access for children under 16 years old as an effort to protect the younger generation in the digital space.
Palangka Raya City Secretary Arbert Tombak, in Palangka Raya on Sunday, stated that the policy represents a strategic step by the central government in creating a safe and healthy digital ecosystem for children.
“The local government is ready to support the implementation of these regulations through socialisation and strengthening digital literacy in the community,” he said.
According to him, this restriction policy is necessary given the increasing risks faced by children in the digital world. Various threats such as exposure to negative content, cyberbullying, and online scams are the main reasons for the government’s firm action.
In addition, social media addiction is a serious concern because it can impact mental health and reduce children’s social interactions. With this restriction, it is hoped that children can focus more on more productive activities such as learning and personal development.
“This policy will also help create a more child-friendly digital space, reduce exposure to harmful content, and encourage healthier child growth and development. The restriction also serves as a preventive measure to protect children’s personal data from potential misuse in cyberspace,” he said.
Schools are also expected to serve as a secondary supervisory space after the family, by implementing gadget usage rules in the educational environment and enhancing teachers’ roles in guiding students regarding their digital activities.
Not only that, an approach through religious education is also considered important in shaping children’s character. Moral and ethical values taught through religious education are hoped to serve as a fortress for children in filtering information and avoiding negative behaviour in cyberspace.
The Palangka Raya City Secretary added that synergy between formal education and religious education will strengthen the character building of the younger generation to be wiser in utilising technology.
Nevertheless, he emphasised that the success of this policy does not only depend on the government and schools, but also on the active role of parents. Parents are expected to be the frontline in supervising children’s internet use and providing digital literacy education from an early age.