Psychologist Introduces KREASI Concept to Reduce Social Media Dependency

Jakarta — Clinical adult psychologist Teresa Indira Andani, who holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of Indonesia, has advised parents to provide alternative activities capable of meeting teenagers’ psychological needs to naturally reduce their dependence on social media.

She stated that to be effective, replacement activities should continue to meet the fundamental needs that teenagers have been obtaining from social media, such as social connection, self-expression, and a sense of competence.

“I usually summarise these alternatives with the acronym KREASI to make it easy to remember,” the psychologist, commonly known as Tesya, said when contacted.

The KREASI framework comprises five elements:

K stands for Ruang Kreatif (Creative Space). Activities such as drawing, making music, writing stories, or creating videos without needing to publish them can serve as healthy outlets for self-expression.

E stands for Eksplorasi Minat (Interest Exploration). Teenagers can try new skills such as cooking, photography, coding, or other fields that align with their interests.

A stands for Aktivitas Sosial (Social Activity). Direct interaction with peers is important for developing empathy and social skills.

S stands for Sosialisasi Offline (Offline Socialisation). Face-to-face interaction with friends is crucial for practising empathy and honing social competencies.

I stands for Interaksi Keluarga (Family Interaction). Simple activities such as playing games together, having casual discussions, or working on family projects can strengthen relationships and communication.

“If children feel connected, capable, and have space for self-expression in the real world, the urge to seek validation on social media tends to decrease,” she said.

She believes this approach is more sustainable than simply limiting screen time without providing psychologically equivalent alternatives.