RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia's Minister of Communication and Digital, Meutya Hafid, affirmed that protecting children in the digital space is not enough by simply restricting the age of access to high-risk platforms. According to her, digital platforms must also transform into safe and child-friendly spaces so that Indonesian children can grow according to their developmental stage.

She explained that advances in digital technology have indeed brought many benefits to education and daily life. "We want these children to be digitally literate, but at the same time, being digitally literate also means being able to balance their lives in the virtual realm with their daily lives with their parents, friends, and peers, so that we can return children to their true selves as children," Meutya Hafid said at the commemoration of National Children's Day in Jakarta, Tuesday, July 21, 2026.

However, on the other hand, various risks also arise for children's growth and development. These include sleep deprivation, addiction to social media and digital platforms, and exposure to age-inappropriate content.

According to her, changes in children's behavior are often not caused by their own character, but rather by exposure to negative content before they are mature enough. "But if good children are continually exposed to negative content before they are mature enough, their behavior can certainly change," she said.

In addition to exposure to harmful content, Meutya highlighted the risks of interaction features on various digital platforms that allow strangers to contact children without the knowledge of parents or teachers. This situation opens up opportunities for various forms of digital crime against children, including child grooming practices.

The Minister also underscored the importance of maintaining a balance between digital activities and real life. She stated that children still need direct interaction with family, peers, and their surroundings to grow into socially and emotionally healthy individuals.