Indonesia Strengthens Efforts to Protect Children on Digital Platforms

Jakarta, The Gulf Observer: Indonesia’s Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs, Meutya Hafid, has emphasized the urgency of tightening regulations and enhancing supervision to safeguard children on digital platforms. She warned of the growing risks of exposure to harmful content and online bullying on social media, underscoring the need for immediate action.

“This crisis is happening right now. Our children are losing focus, becoming addicted to social media, and growing increasingly vulnerable to online exploitation,” Hafid stated in a press release issued on Wednesday.

During a meeting with representatives of global digital platform providers in Jakarta on Tuesday, Hafid stressed the necessity of strict regulations to ensure children’s safety in the digital sphere.

“This is not merely about self-regulation by the platforms but also about the government’s involvement,” she asserted, highlighting that many children under the age of 13 have social media accounts despite platform restrictions.

Hafid called for the effective enforcement of age restrictions and stricter platform compliance measures. “If the rules are not effective, there are gaps that must be fixed. We need social media platforms to enforce strict age restrictions effectively and not just rely on self-management mechanisms,” she noted.

While acknowledging the importance of parental supervision, she pointed out that not all families have the same capacity to monitor their children’s digital activities. She called for a collaborative approach involving the government, digital platforms, and communities to provide broader and fairer protection for children online.

The government is also considering additional policies, such as limiting screen time for children and improving the accuracy of user age verification mechanisms, to further strengthen digital safety measures.

“We want to find a middle ground between government regulation and private initiatives. We must ensure our children can grow up in a healthy and safe digital environment,” Hafid affirmed.

Discussions with various stakeholders, including digital platform providers, parliament, and civil society groups, are ongoing to formulate effective strategies for online child protection.