Jakarta. The government is in the final stages of drafting a regulation aimed at protecting children from the potential harms of video games, responding to the growing concerns surrounding criminal activities such as violence, pornography, sexual abuse, and bullying.

"The progress has been harmonized between ministries, institutions, and local governments so that their tasks, functions, and authorities do not overlap. God willing, it is targeted to be completed this year," said Deputy for Special Child Protection of the Ministry of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection Nahar on Thursday.

Nahar emphasized the detrimental effects of violent video games on the mental and behavioral development of children and adolescents. He assured continued monitoring of game content, particularly those containing violence, with measures such as potential blocking of games like Free Fire, known for its first-person shooter format.

"Its influence is extensive and highly complex. Risks faced include content, behavior, physical contact, and consumer behavior. Contents are not in line with children's age ratings. Free Fire should be monitored, given the risks of behavioral developments that could endanger and influence children," Nahar said.

Indonesia introduced the Indonesia Game Rating System (IGRS) in 2016, providing guidelines for categorizing game content according to specific age groups, which classifies electronic interactive games for various age groups, including 3+, 7+, 13+, 18+, and AA for All Ages.

However, this regulation is currently on hold in connection with the enactment of Minister of Communication and Information Regulation No. 2/2024 regarding game classification.

According to psychologist Stenny Prawitasari, violent video games, especially online games, pose a risk to the mental and emotional health of children.

"Games like Free Fire contain intense violent scenes, including battles and weapon use. Repeatedly playing such games can make children less sensitive to the real consequences of violent actions," she said.

In competitive environments like battle royale genre games, children are more vulnerable to aggressive behavior, such as using foul language or expressing anger when losing in the game.

These games can also cause delays in the social development and communication skills of children.

Stenny said the government needs to pay more serious attention to the issue of the impact of online games on children.

"Restricting access and monitoring of game content containing violence and inappropriate for children's ages need to be strengthened to protect future generations from potential negative impacts," she concluded.

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