Warning: Half of Indonesian Children Exposed to Sexual Content on Social Media
More than half of Indonesian children have been exposed to sexual content via social media. This situation is considered a serious alarm regarding digital threats, including cyberbullying, online predators, and early internet misuse.
Special Staff to the Minister of Communications and Digital, Alfreno Kautsar, stated that the rapid advancement of digital technology presents new challenges in protecting children online. He noted that children are now among the most vulnerable groups to digital risks.
“50.3% of children have been exposed to sexual content via social media, meaning half of the 80 million Indonesian children are affected. Of these, 48% have experienced online gender-based violence,” Kautsar said in a written statement released on Tuesday, 26 May 2026, as reported by detikInet.
Risks for Children in the Digital Space
Two primary risks currently threatening children online are content risks and contact risks.
Content risks refer to exposure to negative material on social media due to children’s easy internet access. According to Alfreno, children can access unlimited content, both positive and negative.
“Children with access to social media can be exposed to any content, negative or positive – all now fall under their responsibility,” Alfreno explained.
Contact risks arise when children interact with strangers via social media or other digital platforms. This is considered dangerous as it opens opportunities for manipulation, radicalisation, and child abuse.
“Many of our children chat with strangers, then are fed harmful information such as radicalism. Additionally, child abuse can occur,” Alfreno added.
Government Measures
As a mitigation step, the government has issued Government Regulation No. 17 of 2025 on the Management of Electronic Systems for Child Protection (PP Tunas). The regulation aims to strengthen child protection in the digital space.
Kautsar stressed that the regulation is not intended to restrict youth creativity or innovation, but to ensure Indonesian children can use technology safely and healthily.
“We never aim to limit innovation for young people. We just want them to understand right from wrong. We want Indonesian youth to be protected from risks, without hindering innovation,” Kautsar said.