Puan: Digital literacy must be strengthened to prevent children's online gambling

Jakarta – The phenomenon of online gambling in Indonesia is entering a far more worrying phase. If previously this practice was associated with adults, now children have become the most vulnerable victims.

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Speaker of the House of Representatives Puan Maharani has called on the government to strengthen the national digital literacy movement in a systematic and sustainable manner to prevent the widespread exposure of children to online gambling.

Speaking in Jakarta on Friday, Puan said the online gambling phenomenon in Indonesia is increasingly worrying because children are a vulnerable group to exposure.

‘The phenomenon of online gambling in Indonesia is currently entering a phase that is far more worrying. If previously this practice was associated with adults, now children have become the most vulnerable victims,’ she said.

She highlighted data indicating that nearly 200,000 Indonesian children have been exposed to online gambling. She said the condition requires serious intervention through cross-institutional involvement from various sectors.

She added that schools cannot work alone in supervising the use of digital spaces by children. Families must become the first line of defence in this supervision.

‘The social environment of children also needs to take on a role, both around the home, in social circles, and in other activities,’ Puan said.

Puan urged that the implementation of the regulation be more progressive, starting from preventive steps to sanctions against service providers that allow online gambling promotions.

‘The state must not fall behind the online gambling networks that move massively and transnationally,’ she said.