Parents' role key to implementing PP Tunas

Jakarta - Child, adolescent, and family psychologist Sani Budiantini Hermawan believes that the role of parents is the primary factor in the successful implementation of PP Tunas, particularly in limiting children’s access to high-risk digital platforms. According to Sani, the biggest challenge in implementing PP Tunas, or Government Regulation (PP) Number 17 of 2025 on the Governance of Electronic Systems in Child Protection, lies within the family environment, as many children are not ready when gadget use begins to be restricted. “It turns out that many children throw tantrums when their parents limit or even start negotiating to restrict the use of digital platforms,” said Sani during a discussion session in Jakarta on Thursday. According to her, children’s reactions appear in various forms, from tantrums, feelings of anxiety, to physical complaints such as nausea and vomiting due to excessive addiction to gadgets. “Some are even anxious, vomiting, nauseous, and experiencing psychosomatic symptoms because they are too attached to their gadgets,” said the University of Indonesia graduate psychologist. Therefore, according to her, parents need to have mental readiness and sufficient understanding of the purpose of PP Tunas, which is to protect children from the risks of negative impacts from excessive gadget exposure. Sani also encourages parents to be more creative in providing alternative activities that can divert children from gadget dependency while building emotional bonds with the family. She invites parents to act as agents of change in overseeing the implementation of PP Tunas to protect the young generation. “Let us guard it, protect it, and spread it from mouth to mouth to implement and socialise this PP for the safety of the nation’s future generations,” she urged.