SMART Principle to Regulate Children's Social Media Use Without Triggering Family Conflict
Jakarta - Clinical adult psychologist Teresa Indira Andani M.Psi, Psikolog, a graduate of the Professional Clinical Master’s programme at the University of Indonesia, recommends parents use the “SMART” principle to regulate children’s social media usage without triggering family conflict.
According to her, overly strict or one-sided rules can actually provoke rejection. “Children today are very sensitive to control that feels one-sided. If they are simply forbidden without being consulted, they tend to resist or do it secretly,” Teresa said when contacted by ANTARA on Friday.
She explained that the SMART principle can help parents establish more effective rules.
S stands for Sepakati (agree together). Teresa emphasised the importance of involving children in determining time limits and types of social media use. “When children help decide, they feel valued. That sense of ownership makes them more responsible,” she said.
M stands for Model from parents. She considers parental example to be the foundation of digital parenting. Parents should not ask children to limit gadget use if parents themselves cannot put down their phones.
A stands for Ajarkan (teach) digital literacy. Parents need to discuss risks such as cyberbullying, misinformation, and how algorithms work in simple language. “Children need to understand why rules are made, not just know that something is forbidden,” she said.
T stands for Tetap (remain) open to talk. According to her, warm communication makes children more comfortable discussing their digital experiences. “If children feel safe to talk, rules no longer feel like punishment but as a form of care,” she said.
She also reminded parents that restricting use without offering alternatives will only confuse children. “If you want to eliminate something, parents must work hard and creatively create other programmes that rival what children usually watch digitally,” she said.
The psychologist believes that regulating social media will be more effective if built through communication, parental modelling, and active parental involvement in children’s daily lives.