RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - A lawmaker from Commission I of the House of Representatives (DPR RI), Nurul Arifin, said the digital space is no longer used solely for entertainment or information but also carries risks for children, including exposure to pornography and cyberbullying.

She noted that parents often struggle to protect their children from the powerful algorithms of social media platforms. According to the Golkar politician, safeguarding children online is not only the responsibility of parents but also of technology companies.

“Technology companies play a significant role through the algorithms and platform designs they build. Parents often come face-to-face with powerful social media algorithms,” Nurul said in a written statement on Monday, March 9, 2026.

Nurul emphasized that Indonesia’s younger generation must be part of the national digital transformation, but within a safe and responsible ecosystem. “We want Indonesian children to remain creative, innovative, and tech-savvy. But all of this must take place in a healthy digital space that protects their future,” she said.

Her statement responded to the issuance of Communication and Digital Ministerial Regulation (Permenkomdigi) No. 9/2026 on the Implementation of Child Protection in the Digital Space. The regulation follows Government Regulation No. 17/2025 on the Governance of Electronic System Implementation for Child Protection, known as PP TUNAS.

Nurul said that setting a minimum age for using digital platforms is already in practice in several countries. She added that Indonesia is taking a progressive step in strengthening digital governance through PP TUNAS and its technical regulation, Permenkomdigi.

“Child protection in the digital space is not enough with regulations alone. It must be accompanied by strong digital literacy so that children can use technology in a healthy and productive manner,” she said.

She stressed that PP TUNAS is an important policy response to the growing number of Indonesian children connected to the internet. The age restrictions, she explained, are not intended to limit children’s use of technology.

“This is not a ban on children using the internet; what the government is doing is delaying access to high-risk digital platforms until a safer age. This is a protective measure, not a restriction of freedom,” Nurul said.

Previously, Communication and Digital Minister Meutya Hafid said the world is experiencing a digital emergency, driven by the misuse of global digital technology. To address this, the government issued Permenkomdigi No. 9/2026, which restricts children’s access to digital platforms.

She explained that the regulation is derived from PP No. 17/2025, or PP TUNAS, which prohibits children under 16 from using social media and other high-risk online platforms. “We believe this is the best step the government can take amidst the digital emergency. Children under 16 will no longer be able to have accounts on high-risk digital platforms,” Meutya said in an official statement in Jakarta on Friday, March 6, 2026. (Misni Parjiati/Lasti Martina)