The most effective protection for children online may still begin far from the screen. Komdigi is warning parents not to lend their social media accounts to children, even as child protection in digital spaces has been strengthened through PP TUNAS.
The warning points to a common gap at home: account sharing. When a child uses a parent’s account, age limits and content supervision can lose their effect.
Alexander Sabar, Director General of Digital Space Supervision at the Ministry of Komdigi, said digital systems cannot fully replace the role of the family. He explained that the law can require age verification, but it cannot stop a child from using a parent’s account.
He delivered that message during the event “Cerdas Digital: Anak Remaja Aman, Orang Tua Tenang” in Jakarta. In his view, algorithms can be configured, but the conversation between mother and child at home remains the main key to protection.
Why platform tools are not enough
Komdigi also says parental control and family link features provided by digital platforms will not work well if parents do not actually use them. For that reason, parents and guardians are asked to become the first curators of a child’s digital experience.
Alexander said the gap in child protection can only be closed by parents or guardians who actively supervise. He noted that digital parenting cannot be left to systems alone, because the habit of sharing accounts creates room for misuse.
That habit is often treated as harmless in many families. In practice, though, it makes it harder to enforce age restrictions and content oversight properly when a child is using an adult’s account.
Three duties for families
Komdigi identifies three main responsibilities for parents who accompany children in digital spaces. The first is to build digital literacy together with the child, so parents who still feel uncomfortable with technology can still understand safe internet use.
The second is to create open communication built on trust. With that kind of relationship, children are more likely to speak up when they encounter something dangerous online.
The third is to establish healthy digital routines through shared agreements. Komdigi stresses that this pattern should come from dialogue and trust, not from one-sided restrictions.
A wider responsibility beyond the home
Alexander also said protecting children online cannot be handled by parents alone. Government, industry or digital platforms, communities, schools, parents, and the public all need to move together so Indonesia’s digital space remains safe, healthy, and productive.
He said the protection of children in digital spaces is not only about today. In his view, the quality of that protection will help shape the quality of Indonesia in the future.
For that reason, Komdigi wants all parties to make digital spaces safe places for learning, healthy places for growth, and strong foundations for the nation’s future. Even so, the earliest supervision still starts at home, especially through the habit of not allowing personal accounts to be used carelessly by children.
Source: www.idntimes.com
