Parental Guidance Key to Healthier Gadget Use Among Teenagers

Students from the State University of Malang (UM) have provided education to parents of SMPN 8 Malang students regarding parenting styles and the supervision of gadget use in the digital era. The activity was held by UM students from the Kauman Village BBM programme, together with UM Master of Psychology students, on 20 July 2026 in the SMPN 8 Malang environment. The education was conducted based on observations and interviews by the implementation team, which found an increase in gadget use among adolescents. The team previously also carried out screening through psychological assessments to map the students’ psychological conditions. The educational material was directed at encouraging healthy use of digital technology so as not to disrupt study concentration, sleep patterns, and the social and emotional interactions of teenagers with their families. The high enthusiasm of parents participating in the activity indicates a need for family digital literacy. Parents were also given space to share their experiences and obstacles in supervising their children’s gadget use at home. The activity was packaged interactively through the presentation of digital parenting material, filling out short questionnaires, and open discussions. Through this forum, parents exchanged experiences regarding the challenges of accompanying children interacting with the digital world. Material presented by UM Master of Psychology student Anisah Mutiara included ways to direct healthy gadget use, social media supervision, screen time restrictions, and building two-way communication between parents and children. The education is expected to increase parents’ awareness of the importance of assistance in technology use. Parental involvement at home is considered an important part of implementing healthy digital parenting patterns. The organisers hope that the collaboration between UM Kauman Village BBM students, UM Master of Psychology students, SMPN 8 Malang, and parents can continue. The activity is expected to help teenagers utilise technology wisely, intelligently, and responsibly.