Young Children Spend Six Hours on Devices; "One Quality Hour with Family" Movement Offers Solution

Jakarta — Indonesia’s Ministry of Coordination for Human Development and Culture (Kemenko PMK) has launched the “One Quality Hour with Family” (Satu Jam KU) movement to address excessive device usage among young children under six years old, with some exposed to gadgets for up to six hours daily.

Woro Srihastuti Sulistyaningrum, Deputy for Family Quality Enhancement and Population Coordination at Kemenko PMK, stated that early childhood profile data shows 42.25 per cent of young children have accessed mobile phones and the internet, with Generation Z and Alpha comprising the largest internet user demographic.

“Children today are more familiar with the digital world than traditional social interaction. This shift has reduced direct family interaction time. Therefore, the Satu Jam KU movement’s core principle is that parents are the primary caregivers, not gadgets,” Woro said in Jakarta on Wednesday.

The movement also aims to improve the quality of direct family interaction and strengthen parent-child bonds. “This movement is based on building quality families in the digital era, with the principle that the home is a safe and comfortable space for interaction,” she explained.

Woro highlighted challenges in internet usage among Generation Z and Alpha, noting that fewer than 30 per cent of children receive parental supervision whilst accessing the internet. Indonesia also ranks third globally in reports of sexual violence content directed at children.

“Although the internet has positive aspects such as education, communication, and information access, negative content poses significant risks without active parental guidance,” Woro said.

She outlined that Satu Jam KU activities are unrestricted and may include joint worship, meals without devices, sports, learning, recreation, family discussions, local cultural activities, and casual gatherings and conversations.

The movement coincides with Ramadhan, when children spend more time learning at home—an opportune moment to strengthen family interaction. “Essentially, direct interaction without device distraction for at least one hour daily is the goal,” Woro concluded.