She said public narratives must prioritize children’s rights and safety, warning that repeated exposure can retraumatize victims and normalize abuse.
Speaking at a media briefing, Tan stressed that children’s perspectives must guide all communication.
“Recent viral cases clearly show that when public narratives fail to protect children, they become victims again and again,” she said.
She, therefore, reminded media and social media users that ethical guidelines forbid revealing a child victim’s identity.
Tan cited the case of Gus Elham, also known as Elham Yahya, whose video showing him kissing a young girl spread widely on social media.
She condemned those who exposed the victim’s face, arguing that such actions leave children vulnerable while perpetrators evade accountability.
“Children remain exposed without protection, perpetrators are not brought to justice, and this sends a message that such actions carry no consequences,” she said.
She also referred to the explosion at Public Senior High School (SMAN) 72 Jakarta, which involved minors in conflict with the law.
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Tan criticized news coverage that focused on alleged bullying, shifting the narrative toward retaliation rather than child protection.
“Some children were even questioned without adult supervision. This violates child protection principles and risks deepening their trauma,” she said.
These two cases, she added, illustrate how viral content and news reports often lack a child protection lens. Instead of safeguarding minors, coverage can fuel public judgment, expose identities, and normalize violence.
Tan warned that careless discourse does not only harm individual children but also erodes social responsibility and protection systems.
She called for stronger safeguards, ethical reporting, and public education to ensure that no child is victimized twice — first by the incident, and again by how society responds.
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Translator: Prisca Triferna Violleta, Katriana
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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