*) By: Nadira Larasati
Digital transformation has opened up vast spaces for people to interact and access information. However, this development also poses serious threats to children, ranging from exposure to negative content, misuse of personal data, cyberbullying, and the infiltration of radical ideologies. Therefore, the issuance of Government Regulation Number 17 of 2025 concerning the Governance of Electronic Systems for Child Protection (PP TUNAS) is a strategic step by the government to strengthen child protection in the digital space. This regulation is not merely an administrative rule, but rather a crucial foundation for building a safer and more responsible digital ecosystem.
The success of PP TUNAS depends heavily on the compliance of digital platforms, which serve as the primary space for public activity. The government recognizes that child protection cannot be achieved solely through regulations without the concrete support of technology companies. Therefore, the Ministry of Communication and Digital’s steps in building a joint commitment with digital platforms are commendable as a form of national leadership in facing the challenges of the digital era.
Minister of Communication and Digital, Meutya Hafid, emphasized that a number of global platforms have begun to demonstrate compliance with PP TUNAS after intensive discussions with the government. One platform of concern is Roblox, which has distinct characteristics compared to conventional social media. The government understands that gaming platforms have their own complexities, so the regulatory approach takes into account technical aspects without compromising the substance of child protection. Roblox’s commitment demonstrates that digital innovation can continue to thrive in line with user safety principles.
Positive developments are also evident in Google’s actions through YouTube. Meutya Hafid stated that Google has submitted a letter of compliance to the Ministry of Communication and Digital as a form of support for the implementation of PP TUNAS. Furthermore, YouTube has begun preparing to gradually deactivate children’s accounts and stop advertising targeting children and adolescents. This policy is important because children are the most vulnerable group to algorithmic exploitation and exposure to age-inappropriate content. With this adjustment from a platform as large as YouTube, child protection is beginning to become a tangible part of global digital platform governance.
Meta, which houses Instagram, Facebook, and Threads, has also adjusted its community policies in compliance with Indonesian government regulations. Setting a minimum age limit of 16 is an important step to limit the risk of unhealthy digital interactions for children. This policy is relevant considering that social media is often a gateway for the spread of harmful content, social pressure, and even mental health problems in adolescents. Through the TUNAS Regulation, the government has successfully encouraged platforms to not only pursue user growth but also prioritize digital ecosystem security.
Meanwhile, the most concrete step is seen in TikTok, which has deactivated approximately 1.7 million accounts of children under the age of 16. Meutya Hafid views this step as a concrete implementation of the platform’s compliance with the TUNAS Regulation. The deactivation of millions of accounts demonstrates that digital platforms actually have the technological capacity to monitor user ages if there is a serious commitment. Many technology companies have argued that age verification is difficult to implement effectively, but TikTok’s steps demonstrate that monitoring can still be implemented for child protection.
Amidst these regulatory strengthening, public digital literacy is also a crucial factor that cannot be ignored. Parents, teachers, and educational institutions need to have a sufficient understanding of the risks of the digital space to be able to support children in using technology healthily. Family supervision and digital character education must go hand in hand with government policies so that child protection does not depend solely on platforms but is also strengthened through collective public awareness.
Furthermore, the implementation of the TUNAS Regulation can provide momentum for Indonesia to demonstrate leadership in digital space governance at the global level. Amid growing global attention to child protection online, Indonesia has adopted an approach that prioritizes the safety of young people. This step demonstrates that technological advancements must not neglect humanitarian values, ethics, and social responsibility.
Danny Ardianto, the representative for YouTube Indonesia and South Asia, also supported the TUNAS regulation. He believes that protecting children in the digital space is a shared responsibility between the government, technology platforms, and the public. This report demonstrates a paradigm shift among digital companies, who are increasingly recognizing the importance of platform governance focused on user safety.
In addition to social and psychological protection, the implementation of the TUNAS Regulation also has a strategic dimension in maintaining national security. The Head of the National Counterterrorism Agency, Commissioner General of Police (Ret.) Eddy Hartono, commended the government’s firmness in enforcing this regulation. He stated that the digital space has now become the primary medium for the spread of radicalism and terrorism propaganda targeting the younger generation. Children and adolescents who lack the maturity to think are often targets for infiltration by extremist ideologies through social media and other digital content. Therefore, the TUNAS Regulation is not only a child protection policy but also a strategic bulwark for maintaining the resilience of the nation’s ideology.
Ultimately, digital platform compliance is the main foundation for the success of the TUNAS Regulation in creating a safe digital space for Indonesia’s youth. With consistent oversight and strengthened platform commitment, Indonesia has a significant opportunity to deliver a digital transformation that prioritizes the safety of the nation’s future generations.
*) Children’s Cyber Literacy Education Consultant.