TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) is urging parents to supervise their children's gadget use more closely. This step is considered crucial, given the shift in the spread of radicalism and extremism, which now extensively uses digital space and social media to target underage children.
KPAI Chair, Aris Adi Leksono, stated that gadgets have the potential to be the main entry point for the infiltration of radical doctrines. He pointed out that most cases of children being exposed to extremist beliefs or activities stem from their use of electronic devices. "Therefore, parents need to pay attention to what their children access," said Aris when contacted on Thursday, July 30, 2026.
As ANTARA reported, the Head of the National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT), Eddy Hartono, stated that the collaboration between ministries/agencies successfully rehabilitated around 250 children exposed to extremism throughout the end of 2024 to 2025. Rehabilitation and guidance are part of the government's commitment to prevent and counter violence-based extremism leading to terrorism.
Eddy mentioned that the current terrorism threats have started to shift. The internet is now used as a tool for recruitment, counter-propaganda, and financing terrorism, targeting women, children, and teenagers.
According to KPAI Chair Aris Adi Leksono, the goal of parental supervision of gadgets is to detect potential exposure to high-risk content or conversation groups that could influence children to become extremists.
In addition to monitoring digital content, Aris said that parents also need to be more sensitive to changes in children's behavior, which are early indicators of psychological issues or exposure. Signs to watch out for include increasing reticence, isolation, antisocial behavior, and reluctance to socialize or confide in family members.
According to Aris, if children lack attention and warm dialogue at home, they are at risk of seeking indulgence or validation in another environment. This pattern could potentially lead children to join digital communities affiliated with extremist networks.
To prevent this, KPAI encourages families to establish open two-way communication, provide emotional support, and actively accompany children's development, especially in the digital era. The agency hopes that the preventive measures taken by families can be the primary defense to prevent children from becoming victims of radicalism networks' exploitation.
"It is important to instill character, strengthen the sense of social responsibility, interact well with others, communicate openly, give children space to speak, understand their grievances, and so on," said Aris.
Read: Australia Sues Telegram for Not Removing 'Terrorist Content'
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