The Importance of Balancing Trust and Child Protection in the Digital World

Ensuring child safety in the digital world is not merely about restricting access, but about building a strong foundation of relationship between parents and children. Clinical psychologist Alsi Mega Marsha Tengker, B.A., M.Sc., M.Psi., emphasises the importance of balancing protection and trust when accompanying children in digital spaces.

Speaking at the ‘#AKSIDigital: Ruang Tumbuh Keluarga Indonesia’ event, the psychologist, affectionately known as Caca, explained that parental trust is the primary asset for children to build self-confidence. According to her, children initially “borrow” trust from their parents before eventually being able to cultivate trust in themselves.

“When we talk about providing protection and trust, it must be balanced. If children trust us, they will find it easier to accept and comply with the rules we set,” said Caca.

Caca, who is also a member of the Indonesian Psychological Association (HIMPSI), reminded that the proportion of protection and trust must be dynamic and adjusted to the child’s age. Young children require strict supervision as they are not yet capable of making independent decisions. However, as they grow older, parents must gradually provide more space for trust.

She also highlighted the importance of utilising technology to assist supervision without undermining the child’s trust. Parental control features on platforms such as Google and YouTube can serve as both a tool and a basis for discussion between parents and children.

The ultimate goal of this guidance is the ability for self-regulation. Caca hopes that children will eventually be able to discern for themselves which content is appropriate to consume on the internet. To achieve this stage, parents need to implement healthy digital habits consistently.

“The most important thing is consistency, not achieving instant perfection. We are building habits at home, such as screen time duration. The aim is not just to limit time, but to train them to regulate themselves in the digital world,” she added.

In addition to consistency, honesty and openness are key. Children need to understand the reasoning behind every rule established by parents. Although being honest with children is not always easy, Caca encourages parents to practice this daily until it becomes a natural habit within the family. Through honest communication, children will feel comfortable discussing issues if they encounter something that does not align with family values or their age while browsing the internet.