Restricted by PP Tunas, Students Say Social Media Helps Learning and Request Child-Specific Platform

BEKASI, KOMPAS.com – A number of junior and senior high school students in Bekasi have responded to the enforcement of Government Regulation (PP) Number 17 of 2025 on the Governance of Electronic Systems in Child Protection (PP Tunas), which began to be implemented on Saturday (28/3/2026). The students assess that the policy has good intentions but still needs refinement, particularly regarding access to learning and supervision mechanisms in the digital space. One student, Darrel Danadyaksa Yunanda (15), said that social media is not only a means of entertainment but also a source of learning and inspiration. “I get quite a lot of interesting things, especially from YouTube and Instagram. There are videos that boost creativity so I want to try them,” he said when met at Plaza Patriot Chandrabaga, Bekasi, on Saturday. He admitted to often finding educational content, such as material for the Academic Competency Test (TKA), including ways to solve mathematics and Indonesian language problems. “The negative ones I often block, like online gambling, vulgar videos, and the like,” he said. According to him, self-awareness is key in using social media. He also suggested that the government provide a special platform for children under 16 years old. “I ask the government to create social media specifically for children under 16 years old,” he said. Darrel also acknowledged that there are still loopholes in the implementation of the rules, such as practices of falsifying identities to access certain platforms. “Stopping social media is quite difficult, because we need it,” he added. “I am quite disappointed and surprised too. Because most of us children under 16 use social media to find news, socialise, or keep in touch with friends,” he said. Nevertheless, Galang assessed that creativity does not entirely depend on social media. “We can find creativity from books, parents, or close friends. Social media is just a diversion,” he said.