PKBI Lampung: Boost Family Capacity to Monitor Children in Digital Spaces

Bandarlampung (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Family Planning Association (PKBI) Regional Lampung states that the implementation of child protection policies in the digital realm must be complemented by increasing family capacity to monitor children in digital spaces. “PKBI welcomes the application of child protection policies in the digital realm as an important step to respond to the increasing risks faced by children and adolescents in digital spaces, such as violence, exploitation, and exposure to age-inappropriate content,” said PKBI Lampung Regional Executive Director Muhamad Fajar Santoso when contacted in Bandarlampung on Saturday. He said that the policy could strengthen this process if it encourages parental involvement in building collective awareness regarding risks and responsibilities in digital spaces. “In this context, the family does not only act as a supervisor but also as a companion and facilitator for children in understanding the digital world. However, child protection in digital spaces is not sufficient through a restriction or access control approach alone. This policy needs to be implemented comprehensively, proportionately, and based on children’s rights,” he said. “Therefore, we encourage the implementation of this policy to be accompanied by strengthening digital literacy, increasing the capacity of parents and educators in accompanying children in digital spaces. Because they have a stronger responsibility in protecting child users. And there is also a need to involve children and adolescents in the policy evaluation process,” he added. He continued that the policy, in principle, provides long-term benefits for the future of Indonesian children, including preparing the quality of future leadership both at the national level and in Lampung Province. “The current digital environment is part of the space for children’s growth and development. If this space is safe, healthy, and supportive, then children have a greater opportunity to develop critically and creatively as well as have awareness of rights, responsibilities, and healthy social relations,” he added. “This must be balanced with education and empowerment, so that there is no risk of children losing opportunities to develop their digital capacity and the emergence of digital literacy gaps between regions. An overly restrictive approach has the potential to encourage children to access digital spaces secretly, which could actually increase risks due to minimal supervision,” he added. According to him, child protection policies in the digital realm are an important initial step for children’s growth and development. “And its success greatly depends on how the policy is carried out in a balanced manner between child protection and empowerment, strengthening digital literacy and reproductive health education,” he said again.