Tips for diverting children from gadgets
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Professor Susanto, a professor at the University of Higher Qur’anic Education Jakarta, stated that diverting children’s habits from activities solely involving gadgets towards more productive ones requires a guiding and inspirational approach.
“Shifting children’s habits towards more productive directions requires an approach that does not merely prohibit, but guides and inspires,” said Susanto when contacted in Jakarta on Monday.
He conveyed this in response to the implementation of Ministerial Regulation on Communication and Digital Affairs No. 9 of 2026 as the implementing regulation for Government Regulation No. 17 of 2025 on the Governance of Electronic System Operators in Child Protection (PP Tunas), which will take effect from 28 March 2026.
According to the Chairman of the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) for the 2017-2022 period, one positive step that can be taken is to encourage interest- and talent-based activities, such as sports, arts, science, or small-scale entrepreneurship from an early age.
“Children need to experience real satisfaction in the offline world,” said Susanto.
Susanto reminded parents that they can limit and accompany technology use, not just with strict control, but through dialogue and mutual agreement. Parents can also serve as digital role models because children learn not from advice, but from examples.
On the other hand, integrating technology positively, for example using the internet to learn new skills rather than just consuming entertainment, can also be a step taken by parents.
According to him, the success of efforts to divert children from gadget-centric activities is not only determined by regulations, but also by collaboration between family, school, community, and state.
“We are not distancing children from technology, but equipping them to master technology without losing their identity. May this step become a strong foundation for the birth of an excellent, characterful, and globally competitive Indonesian generation,” said Susanto.