The ministry's Deputy for Family Quality Improvement and Population, Woro Srihastuti Sulistyaningrum, made the statement at an event to commemorate the Safer Internet Day 2025 here on Wednesday.
"We need to jointly take concrete steps to create a more comfortable and friendly digital environment for children," she remarked.
Sulistyaningrum also emphasized the importance of parents and teachers building better and more open communication with children.
"Based on the data, less than 40 percent of parents have sufficient knowledge about the internet to assist their children in using the internet safely," she pointed out.
She also emphasized the importance of strengthening the monitoring system, which has been built, although the information has yet to be communicated effectively.
"Internet does not only have negative impacts; there are positive impacts that we can get from the internet," she remarked.
She noted that a study conducted by the human development research center of Gadjah Mada University (UGM) showed that the use of gadgets and internet have positive impacts on the cognitive development of children.
"Children can broaden their horizons, increase creativity, and develop communication skills. Thus, we must be able to increase the benefits of internet use," she stressed.
Sulistyaningrum underlined that digital security is not only the responsibility of each individual but also families, the community, and the government.
"It needs collaboration of various parties, be it government and non-government, including children, to realize digital space that is healthier, safer, and supports our children," she remarked.
In response to the risks threatening children in digital platforms, the Indonesian government is currently moving quickly to create a regulation to make the digital space safer for children, including the plan to set age restrictions for accessing digital platforms.
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Translator: Lintang Budiyanti, Raka Adji
Editor: Arie Novarina
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