Role of the Ministry of Religious Affairs in Restricting Children's Access on Social Media

The Government Regulation on the Governance of Electronic Systems for Child Protection (PP Tunas) will take effect from 28 March 2026. Head of the Public Relations and Communication Bureau of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Thobib Al Asyhar, stated that his ministry will strengthen digital literacy for 13 million students and santri in religious education environments.

Strengthening digital literacy will be carried out, among other ways, by integrating it into the learning process at religious education institutions. “The materials that can be provided include digital ethics, the ability to filter information, and strengthening religious values,” he said in an official statement on Saturday, 28 March 2026.

In addition, Kemenag will also optimise the roles of teachers, religious instructors, pesantren managers, preachers, and khatibs in providing digital education to the community. Collaboration with various parties will continue to be strengthened to create a safe and child-friendly digital space.

“We want to ensure that students and santri not only become technology users but are also able to become agents of change who bring positive values to the digital space,” he said.

Minister of Religious Affairs Nasaruddin Umar also emphasised that the implementation of PP Tunas must be accompanied by strengthening values and family-based digital literacy as well as religious education.

“We want the digital space to become a safe, healthy, and educational space for the younger generation. Therefore, digital literacy must be strengthened, not only for children but also for parents and their immediate environment,” said the Minister.

The Ministry of Religious Affairs will optimise the roles of madrasahs, pesantren, and religious instructors in building collective awareness about digital media ethics and responsibilities.

Through these steps, the Ministry of Religious Affairs hopes that the implementation of PP Tunas can run optimally and be able to create a safer digital space for children, while strengthening the roles of families, educational institutions, and society in accompanying the younger generation in the digital era.

Previously, Minister of Communication and Digital Meutya Hafid emphasised that the government will not compromise with digital platforms that do not comply with the mandate to protect children in the digital space, in line with Government Regulation Number 17 of 2025 on the Protection and Governance of Electronic Systems in Child Protection (PP Tunas).

Meutya also gave appreciation to two digital platforms, namely X and Bigo Live, which have full compliance with PP Tunas.

She also welcomed TikTok and Roblox platforms, which are categorised as partially cooperative with PP Tunas.

Meanwhile, four other platforms, namely Facebook, Threads, Instagram, and YouTube, still do not meet the provisions of PP Tunas.