Govt Emphasizes Critical Thinking for Children in Digital World

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesian Deputy Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs Nezar Patria has emphasized that critical thinking skills are essential for children navigating the digital era. He delivered the remarks at the Saling Jaga Tunas Bangsa Forum in South Tangerang on Tuesday, January 20, 2026.

Nezar said critical thinking serves as children’s primary safeguard in filtering information in the digital space, where content is abundant and often misleading. He noted that hoax material generated with artificial intelligence (AI) is now circulating widely, making the ability to verify information increasingly vital.

“The most essential thing in the digital world is critical thinking. The ability to sort, analyze, and verify information is the most valuable skill,” Nezar said in a statement in Jakarta on January 20.

He explained that critical thinking helps preserve children’s thought patterns in the digital environment and encourages them to actively filter online content.

Nezar also stressed the role of parents in strengthening these skills, saying children must be guided to avoid blindly believing content that appears convincing but is in fact false. “This is the key to maintaining our sanity and well-being in the digital world. We should not be mere passive recipients,” he said. (Gusti Panji/Lasti Martina)