Psychologist: PP Tunas Protects Children from Negative Impacts of Social Media

Kupang, NTT - Psychologist Abdi Keraf views Government Regulation Number 17 of 2025 on the Governance of Electronic System Organisers in Child Protection (PP Tunas) as a positive measure to protect children from various negative impacts of social media (medsos). “These restrictions are beneficial as a form of governmental attention to the sustainability of future generations. We must see this as something positive, a good educational step taken by the government,” he said, who is also an academic at Nusa Cendana University (Undana) in Kupang, NTT, on Saturday. He explained that the restrictions provide space for parents and teachers to educate children under 16 regarding gadget usage, including access to certain areas that are not yet appropriate for their age level. “In the virtual world, particularly social media, there are not only positive aspects but also negative spaces that can affect children’s growth and development, especially in thinking processes, emotion management, and behaviour,” he stated. He noted that educational and positive social media content can serve as a learning space for children. However, in reality, not all content can be controlled because everyone is free to express themselves in various forms. “For example, there is content related to radicalism, sexuality, conflict, infidelity, and so on. If accessed by underage children who are not yet able to filter it well, this becomes a form of negative and harmful learning,” he said. “Therefore, the restrictions provide space for parents, teachers, educators, and adults to control it properly. But everything must ultimately return to child-rearing education at home,” he added. Abdi further stated that children should not view these restrictions as a form of punishment or an attempt to diminish their rights. “The right to obtain information, the right to express oneself, and so forth are possessed by everyone, including children. But they must understand that there is something behind social media that can threaten them,” he said. He emphasised that through home upbringing and non-formal education by parents, children should also accept that positive goals should not be achieved through unrestricted means. “Social media usage for children has its moments and times,” he remarked. Furthermore, he encouraged all parties to collaborate in providing socialisation regarding PP Tunas, which has been officially enforced since 28 March 2026. “With this regulation, at the neighbourhood level (RT, RW), local government, including Posyandu, PKK, and educational spaces like teachers, must intensively socialise it,” he said.