‘63% of Indonesian children not educated on wise digital media use’
Minister stresses need for family conversations to check negative influence of digital media on the children
BOGOR, Indonesia (MNTV) – Sixty-three percent of Indonesian children have never received education on how to use digital media wisely, said Dr Wihaji, Minister of Population and Family Development.
He was speaking at a discussion titled “Synergy Between Family and State in Child Protection in the Digital Age” at IPB University.
He said that the digital world, especially social media and the algorithms behind it, greatly influence children’s thinking and behavior. If left unchecked, it can have a negative impact on their minds, he added.
“Smartphones have become our new family, influencing not only children but also parents. Technology should help us, not harm us,” said Dr Wihaji.
He explained that 92 percent of children aged 6–17 have used the internet. However, only 37 percent of them have received adequate digital education.
Dr Wihaji revealed that 20.9% of children experience loneliness, and another 20.9% emotionally feel the absence of a father figure. This is partly due to all family members being too engrossed in the digital world. “The solution is simple: have a conversation. During meals, put away your phones. Talk about anything, as long as there is room for communication,” he said.
Prof Arif Satria, Rector of IPB University, stressed the importance of communication between parents and children. “Family resilience is a key pillar of national progress. Communication between parents and children is its foundation,” he said.
He shared research findings from IPB University indicating that intensive communication between mothers and children positively correlates with children’s academic performance, particularly at the high school level. “The higher the quality of communication, the more likely the child’s academic achievement will improve,” he said.
Additionally, he noted, children’s education in the digital age requires synergy between families and the state. For this reason, Prof Arif also commended the Indonesian Model Father Movement (GATI) program from the National Population and Family Planning Agency (BKKBN).
“This movement is very relevant. Amidst the busyness of fathers, communication with children becomes minimal. We must encourage this so that family relationships remain strong,” said Prof Arif.
IPB University has expressed its readiness to serve as a think tank for strengthening family policies and child protection in the digital age. IPB University offers a Family Studies program, from undergraduate (S1) to graduate (S2) and doctoral (S3) levels, providing the academic foundation to support family development in Indonesia.
“We are ready to provide policy recommendations to the government through research findings as a form of higher education’s contribution to national family development,” he explained.
He said that the role of higher education institutions is not only in the academic field but also in providing tangible contributions to evidence-based policy formulation (policy briefs) to strengthen human and family development in Indonesia.
“We are ready to collaborate, synergize, and convey the results of the training to the ministry as material for national policy,” he said.
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