West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi Urges Limiting Children's Gadget Use for Health Reasons

West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi has warned of the dangers of children’s habit of playing with gadgets for long periods. According to him, excessive gadget use leaves children insufficiently active, affecting their physical condition and growth and development.

He said children become more susceptible to illness and their emotional levels rise. Several diseases normally suffered by adults are now being found in children, including kidney failure and diabetes.

“The future threat is not only malnutrition, but nutrition that is not managed into energy,” said Dedi Mulyadi, at the National Seminar and Declaration of Indonesian Health Sovereignty 2045, themed “Building a Healthy, Independent, Innovative and Globally Competitive Nation”, at the GBI Bethel Summarecon building in Bandung City on Wednesday, 15 July 2026.

He therefore asked parents to pay attention to their children’s lifestyles. Encourage children to take part in activities that require plenty of movement. Also monitor their intake so they do not consume too much unhealthy food and drink, including those high in sugar.

On the same occasion, Dedi also conveyed the West Java Provincial Government’s plan to improve the nutrition of pregnant women. “When a pregnancy has complications, she may go to a shop, minimarket or anywhere else to obtain food to consume during pregnancy. We are currently formulating this because it is the state’s responsibility,” Dedi explained.

He argued that, materially, the state must be responsible for the provision of nutritious food, quality drinking water and clean air. “The state must be responsible for all of that. Attending to the material aspects of human development at all times,” he said. (*)