Protecting Children from the Court of Public Opinion

Surabaya (ANTARA) - Every time a video about a child goes viral on social media, public attention is immediately drawn to who is at fault. Emotion moves faster than facts. Clips, one-sided narratives, and mutually reinforcing comments form a belief as if a case has been decided. In fact, in many instances, the legal process has not even begun, let alone reached a conclusion. This phenomenon resurfaced in the polemic over alleged child exploitation in Surabaya, East Java. A circulating video sparked accusations that a five-year-old child was a victim of neglect and exploitation by their biological father. The narrative spread widely and provoked public reaction. However, after the Surabaya city government and the police conducted field clarifications, no evidence has been found to substantiate the accusations. The team also found the child in good condition, attending school, under the father’s care, and showing no signs of psychological trauma. The case serves as a reminder that child protection issues cannot be viewed solely from the perspective of alleged violations. What is far more important is how the state, society, the media, and social media users ensure that every step taken truly serves the best interests of the child. Child exploitation is a serious issue. The International Labour Organization (ILO) and UNICEF have warned for years that millions of children worldwide remain trapped in various forms of economic and social exploitation. Indonesia also has strong legal instruments to prevent this, from the Child Protection Law to other regulations on children’s rights. Therefore, any allegation of exploitation must be followed up immediately. There must be no impunity. However, seriousness in handling reports is not synonymous with justifying every accusation that circulates. In the Surabaya case, the local government did not remain silent. The Office of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection as well as Population Control and Family Planning (DP3A-PPKB) moved together with the police to conduct an examination, visit the child’s home, meet both parties, check the child’s psychological condition, and ensure the child continues to attend school. Preliminary results indicate no evidence supports the exploitation accusations that went viral on social media.