Jakarta — The government has officially issued a Government Regulation (PP) on the Governance of Electronic System Implementation in Child Protection or PP Tunas, which limits social media access for children under the age of 18 without parental supervision. This regulation has received widespread support from legislators, health practitioners, and community elements.
Member of Commission I of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Farah Puteri Nahlia, expressed her support for this policy. According to her, the restriction is not an attempt at prohibition, but rather a form of protection for children from the negative impacts of digital content. Farah said that exposure to age-inappropriate content can interfere with a child’s cognitive and mental development.
“From the 2023 American Psychological Association (APA) study, it was proven that excessive use of social media in children increases the risk of depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders,” he explained.
Farah also cited similar regulations in developed countries such as COPPA in the United States and the Age-Appropriate Design Code in the United Kingdom, which also limit children’s digital access. She emphasized the importance of the role of families and schools in accompanying children in the digital era.
Minister of Communication and Digital (Menkomdigi) Meutya Hafid said that PP Tunas prohibits digital platforms from making children into commodities. “Platforms are prohibited from making children into objects of commercialization,” she said.
PP Tunas regulates five main points, namely: child protection is more important than commercial interests, prohibition of child data profiling, age restrictions for use, prohibition of digital exploitation of children, and strict sanctions for violators.
Data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) 2024 shows that 39.71 percent of early childhood in Indonesia have used mobile phones, and 35.57 percent have accessed the internet. Meanwhile, the Indonesian Pediatrician Association (IDAI) reported that 65.1 percent of children who use gadgets for more than 20 minutes experience behavioral disorders such as tantrums and temperamental.
Therefore, support from all levels of society is needed so that the implementation of this policy runs effectively. Parents, educators, and digital communities are expected to work together with the government in creating a safe, healthy, and educational digital ecosystem for children.
Through this policy, the government hopes that the digital ecosystem in Indonesia will be healthier and safer for children. Access restrictions are expected to protect the younger generation from digital addiction while encouraging their optimal growth and development.