Parent Education Key to Successfully Implementing Device Restrictions for Children

Jakarta — Indonesia’s Ministry of Coordination for Human Development and Culture (Kemenko PMK) has stated that parental education is the key to successfully implementing regulations restricting device use among children under 16 years of age.

Woro Srihastuti Sulistyaningrum, Deputy for Family Quality Improvement and Population Coordination at Kemenko PMK, said many parents remain confused about the new regulations, making public awareness and education the first step requiring reinforcement.

“Education cannot target only children, but also families and educators as the child’s immediate environment,” she said in Jakarta on Wednesday.

Woro cited cases of children experiencing tantrums due to restrictions on digital gaming access as a signal that parents must be better prepared in their parenting approaches. The government is therefore promoting an educational approach through various ministries and schools, including utilising parent-teacher meeting forums.

She also emphasised the importance of parenting alternatives that do not rely on devices, as technology has often become an instant solution when children become upset or demand parental attention.

“However, parental commitment and example are needed to provide quality time without digital distractions. If a parent prohibits their child from using devices whilst they themselves continue playing with their mobile phone, that is not setting an example,” Woro said.

She stressed that parent education is the key to ensuring that device restriction regulations do not simply remain rules, but genuinely impact changes in family parenting patterns.

She added that awareness campaigns can be conducted through inter-ministerial coordination involving the Ministry of Population and Family Development/BKKBN, the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection, and the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education.

“Also through parent meetings at schools. This education aims to introduce quality parenting practices without device dependence and emphasise the importance of parental commitment and example in limiting digital device usage,” she said.

Digital addiction is also a global concern. According to a World Health Organisation (WHO) report, problematic social media use behaviour among adolescents has increased from 7 per cent in 2018 to 11 per cent in 2022, and approximately 12 per cent of adolescents face the risk of “problematic gaming” or game use that disrupts their wellbeing and mental health, based on the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study covering nearly 280,000 children across 44 countries.

This data affirms concerns that impulsive use of digital devices can impact children’s mental health and social development, necessitating a holistic educational strategy rather than merely restricting screen time.