March 30, 2026 | 11:09 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Professor Susanto, a professor at the Jakarta Quranic University, stated that shifting children's habits away from activities that rely solely on gadgets and toward more productive ones requires a guiding and inspiring approach.
"To shift children's habits toward more productive ones, we need an approach that doesn't just prohibit them, but also guides and inspires them," Susanto said when contacted in Jakarta on Monday.
He made this statement in response to the implementation of Minister of Communication and Digital Regulation Number 9 of 2026 as the implementing regulation for Government Regulation Number 17 of 2025 concerning the Governance of Electronic Systems for Child Protection (PP Tunas), which took effect on March 28, 2026.
According to the Chairperson of the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) for the 2017-2022 period, one positive step that can be taken is to encourage interest- and talent-based activities, such as sports, arts, science, or small-scale entrepreneurship from an early age.
"Children need to experience real satisfaction in the offline world," Susanto said.
Another step is developing project-based learning activities, such as creating art, planting, or participating in social activities in the local community.
Susanto reminded parents that they can limit and support technology use, not through strict control alone, but through dialogue and mutual agreement. Parents can also be digital role models, as children learn not from advice but from example.
On the other hand, integrating technology positively, such as using the internet to learn new skills, rather than just for entertainment, can also be a step parents can take.
According to him, the success of efforts to divert children from activities that involve constant use of devices is determined not only by regulations, but also by collaboration between families, schools, communities, and the state.
"We are not distancing children from technology, but rather equipping them to master it without losing their identity. Hopefully, this step will become a strong foundation for the birth of a superior, character-based, and globally competitive Indonesian generation," said Susanto.
Read: 6 Warning Signs of Screen Addiction You Need to Be Aware of
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