Religious Affairs Minister: Digital Space Needs Foundation of Religion and Ethics

Religious Affairs Minister Nasaruddin Umar has given his full support to the derivative regulations of Government Regulation (PP) on the Governance of Electronic Systems in Child Protection, known as PP Tunas (Wait Until the Child is Ready). The Minister stressed that the derivative regulation outlined in Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs Regulation No. 9 of 2026, which delays social media access for children under 16 starting 28 March 2026, is not a restriction but a form of state protection for the growth and development of children under 16. “The digital space needs a foundation of religion and ethics. We want to ensure that the foundation of religion and ethics is firmly embedded in the family and education environment before they step into the digital world,” said the Minister in Jakarta on Friday (20/3). The Minister has instructed all levels in madrasahs and religious education institutions to strictly monitor the implementation of this policy. This momentum, the Minister explained, must be utilised by educational institutions to optimise digital literacy based on a deep strengthening of religious and ethical foundations. Furthermore, the Minister also called on teachers, kiai, and parents to accompany children with love. “We prepare them to become a generation that is not only digitally intelligent but also knowledgeable, moral, and responsible,” said the Minister. Collaboration between the education and family environments is the main key to ensuring this regulation has a real impact on the ground. Atalya assessed that there needs to be gradual development of an artificial intelligence curriculum so that students can learn about AI technology in an educational and responsible manner. Abdul Mu’ti stated full support for the implementation of PP Tunas through strengthening regulations in educational units. The main focus of protection covers 10.4 million madrasah students, 3.3 million pesantren students, and tens of thousands of students from religious schools of various religions. Trubus Rahardiansah said that the current policy approach is still top-down and has not fully opened space for dialogue with key stakeholders. Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs Meutya Hafid reminded parents to limit children’s gadgets during Eid 2026 as preparation for the implementation of PP Tunas on 28 March. After the regulation, parents must still hold the main role in accompanying children facing the digital world. The Batam Communication and Informatics Office is also continuing to encourage increased digital literacy for parents so they can guide children in using the internet wisely and responsibly. The 2025 child protection notes show threats in the digital space ranging from exposure to age-inappropriate content, cyberbullying, to the misuse of children’s personal data. Indonesia’s position in the 2025 World Terrorism Index shows improvement with the score dropping from 18 to 15 and remaining in the low impact category. Strengthening digital literacy is a strategic long-term investment for the nation’s future.