Indonesia enforces school device rules to shield youth from cyber risk

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Communication and Digital Affairs Minister Meutya Hafid expressed strong support for device restrictions in schools, stating the policy directly aligns with broader government efforts to safeguard children online.

According to Meutya, the restrictions conform with Government Regulation No. 17 of 2025 concerning the Governance of Electronic Systems for Child Protection, also known as PP Tunas.

She noted that limiting screen time in educational settings is a vital component of Indonesia’s national strategy to protect youth from digital harms.

"The regulation on device restrictions in schools further complements the government's commitment to protecting our children from negative threats in the digital space, especially harmful content," the minister said in her statement on Thursday.

The support follows the issuance of Circular Letter No. 18 of 2026 by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, which formally restricts device use in educational units to foster safer and more responsible technology habits.

The policy seeks to shield students from a range of digital vulnerabilities, including technology addiction, cyberbullying, data privacy breaches, and mental health issues.

Meutya highlighted the urgency of the measure, pointing to the country's rapid digital expansion. Internet penetration in Indonesia has now cleared 80 percent, with children and adolescents under 18 making up 48 percent of the country’s 220 million internet users.

"Under these conditions, excessive use of technology without proper controls has the potential to reduce the quality of physical and mental development of the nation's future generation," she warned.

While backing school-level restrictions, she stressed that policy must be paired with digital literacy education to teach young users how to verify information, protect personal data, and practice online ethics.

Furthermore, Meutya called on digital platform operators to actively engineer safer environments for Indonesian minors without disrupting the legitimate educational benefits of technology.

"Child protection in the digital space cannot rely solely on parental or school supervision; it requires stronger national digital governance," she concluded.

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Translator: Farhan Arda Nugraha, Yashinta Difa

Editor: Azis Kurmala

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