Psychologist deems PP Tunas crucial for protecting children in the digital era
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Child and Adolescent Clinical Psychologist from the University of Indonesia’s Psychology Institute, Vera Itabiliana Hadiwidjojo, considers the implementation of PP Tunas a crucial step in preserving children’s growth and development in the digital era.
“This regulation is important and relevant to the current situation. Children who are in the developmental phase of the brain, emotions, and self-control need to be limited so that their growth and development are optimal,” Vera stated when contacted by ANTARA in Jakarta on Sunday.
Vera explained that restricting access to social media is not merely a prohibition, but an effort to provide space for children to develop according to their age stage.
Early exposure to social media, she said, can disrupt emotional regulation, affect the formation of self-identity, and reduce the quality of direct interactions with family and peers.
From a physical perspective, excessive gadget use also risks causing insufficient sleep, minimal physical activity, and health issues such as eye strain.
According to her, children can become more easily anxious, experience overthinking, and feel inferior due to social comparisons on digital media.
In addition, there is a risk of digital dependency or addiction, more frequent mood changes, and a decline in focus and concentration abilities.
“A decrease in direct communication skills also often occurs because children are not accustomed to reading nonverbal cues in face-to-face interactions,” she said.
She reminded that the determining factors for the impact are not only the duration of use, but also the quality of the content and whether there is parental supervision.
In relation to that, Vera recommended screen time durations adjusted to the child’s age.
For ages 6–12 years, around one to two hours per day outside of school needs, while for ages 13–16 years, it is more flexible but still must be limited so as not to disrupt sleep time and primary activities.
She emphasised that the role of parents is very crucial in supervising gadget use, starting from being a role model, making consistent rules, to accompanying children when accessing digital content.
“Restricting access to social media is not about limiting children’s freedom, but protecting their growth and development process to remain healthy physically, mentally, and socially,” Vera concluded.
As is known, the government has officially implemented Government Regulation Number 17 of 2025 on the Governance of Electronic System Operators in Child Protection (PP TUNAS), effective from 28 March 2026.
This regulation requires all digital platforms to limit children’s access according to age and strengthen child personal data protection.