Yogyakarta. Age-based restrictions alone are insufficient to protect children from harmful online content, with stronger collaboration among parents, schools, and digital platforms needed to build a safer digital ecosystem, a Gadjah Mada University expert said on Wednesday.

Gilang Desti Parahita, a lecturer at the university’s Department of Communication Science, said coordinated action among stakeholders is critical to support government efforts to curb the negative impacts of the digital space and ensure more effective policy implementation.

Her comments come as a new government regulation restricting social media access for children under 16, which took effect on March 28, has yet to significantly reduce exposure to harmful content.

The urgency of the policy is underscored by data showing that around 48% of Indonesia’s internet users are children, making them particularly vulnerable to online risks.

Gilang described the regulation as a positive step reflecting the government’s commitment to protecting children from harmful content, cyberbullying, and digital addiction. However, she cautioned that age limits alone are unlikely to be effective.

“The more something is prohibited, the more children tend to seek it. Today’s children are also technologically adept — they can use VPNs or other methods to bypass restrictions,” she said.

She added that the regulation still contains loopholes that allow children to access restricted platforms, partly due to their relatively high level of digital literacy.

Gilang also raised concerns about data privacy risks in the age verification process, which may require users to submit sensitive personal information such as identification documents.

In addition, she highlighted the lack of transparency in platform algorithms, which play a significant role in shaping children’s online behavior. Algorithms tend to continuously recommend similar content based on user preferences, particularly through short-form videos that can affect attention spans and concentration.

“Content continuously adapts to user preferences, making it difficult for children to disengage. Personalized advertising and profiling should be limited, especially for children,” she said.

Gilang added that addressing the risks of the digital environment requires collective efforts from parents, educators, and technology companies. She also stressed the need to strengthen digital literacy so children can use technology responsibly and better protect themselves online.

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