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Click with Caution: Keeping Indonesian Kids Safe Online

Published

6 months ago

on

Sumber: Freepik
 

Author: Sarah Crockett (Intern from Australia)

The world has become increasingly interconnected, with the use of smartphones and the internet skyrocketing globally. Children and young adults in particular are heavy users of social media and are at the forefront of digital usage. This rise in digital engagement has brought with it a host of opportunities, but also significant risks for young users. As children navigate the online world, they are increasingly exposed to dangers such as cyberbullying, online sexual exploitation, and harmful content. Addressing online safety is thus an urgent priority for all countries. However, Indonesian children in particular have a high rate of access to the internet and all of the potential accompanying issues. 
 
According to the 2023 report by Asosiasi Penyelenggara Jasa Internet Indonesia (APJII), over 80% of children aged 10-17 in Indonesia have access to the internet, with the majority engaging through mobile devices. Popular platforms include TikTok, YouTube, WhatsApp, and Instagram, often used without adequate supervision. While internet use can support learning and creativity, it also poses challenges when digital literacy and parental guidance are lacking. Many parents are less, or totally unfamiliar with some or all of these platforms, making it difficult to warn against same of the dangers of online engagement.
 
Children in Indonesia face a range of online risks. Cyberbullying has become prevalent on social media and there is also a risk of online grooming and sexual exploitation. These issues are exacerbated by the anonymity and accessibility of online communication, the ability of individuals to hide their identity emboldens them in their actions. ECPAT Indonesia noted a significant rise in online child sexual exploitation cases during the COVID-19 pandemic. Exposure to harmful content, including pornography, hate speech, and graphic violence, is also widespread and frequently insufficiently regulated. Girls in particular are more at risk of facing online harassment and discrimination.
 
Indonesia has enacted several laws to address online risks, including Law No. 11/2008 on Electronic Information and Transactions and Law No. 35/2014 on Child Protection. While these frameworks provide a foundation for action, enforcement remains inconsistent, and child-specific digital protections are still evolving. The Ministry of Communication and Information (Kominfo) has launched digital literacy campaigns, but their reach and impact vary. Regional disparities and limited teacher training further constrain effective implementation.
 
To address this growing concern, the Indonesian government is preparing stronger safeguards for children on digital platforms. Inspired by recent steps taken by countries like Australia, Indonesia is considering a law that would restrict access to social media for users under the age of 16. The move follows increasing reports of online abuse and growing concerns among parents, educators, and child protection advocates. There has been a mixed response to this proposed safeguard, with some feeling it is overly restrictive and authoritarian while others feel it is a necessary measure to protect the mental health and safety of Indonesia’s children.
 
Kominfo is also working on interim child protection guidelines. These guidelines aim to regulate digital content, enforce stricter age verification mechanisms, and compel social media companies to take greater responsibility for harmful content on their platforms. While some critics worry about overregulation and the potential to limit young people’s access to information, many experts argue that the safety of children must come first. “Digital literacy alone is not enough,” says a child rights activist based in Jakarta. “We need infrastructure, policy, and corporate accountability to protect our children in cyberspace.”
 
There are various strategies that can be utilised to improve the safety of children online. In the home parents can be empowered with tools and knowledge about how to protect their children’s safety online through workshops. Schools can implement digital literacy programs into the curriculum to help children to understand the potential risks. Reporting systems for instances of online abuse can be created and made readily accessible and child-protection laws can also be enhance and updated to reflect the current online landscape.
 
Online safety for children in Indonesia is a pressing concern requiring coordinated action across sectors. With its growing digital youth population, Indonesia is well-positioned to lead regional efforts in child online protection. Prioritizing inclusive, culturally sensitive, and rights-based strategies will help ensure that all children can explore the digital world safely and confidently.
 
References
• APJII. (2023). Penetrasi & Perilaku Pengguna Internet Indonesia.
• ECPAT Indonesia. (2020). Online Child Sexual Exploitation in Indonesia.
• Kominfo. (2023). Digital Literacy Campaigns.
• Raharjo, B. (2022). Digital Parenting in Indonesia: Challenges and Cultural Contexts.
• UNICEF Indonesia. (2021). Digital Literacy for Children and Adolescents in Indonesia.
• UNICEF Office of Research – Innocenti. (2020). Growing Up in a Connected World.
• UNESCO Jakarta. (2019). Safe Internet Use for Indonesian Youth.

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Opini

Stranger Things – Siap Melihat Kisah Akhir dari Kota Hawkins? Ini 5 Hal yang Bikin Stranger Things Iconic!

Published

3 weeks ago

on

22 October 2025

By

Sumber foto: Stranger Things

Zaky Nur Maktsuroh

Halo! Kalian ada yang belum nonton serial Stranger Things? Ini adalah saatnya untuk langsung kejar semua season-nya! Serial ini salah satu serial terbaik yang pernah ada di Netflix. Dari season 1 sampai season 4, perjalanan serial ini bikin aku speechless. Dan pada bulan November 2025 ini, Stranger Things akan hadir kembali untuk final season. Sebelum nonton season 5 yuk kita throwback dulu!

Season 1: Kita ingat lagi saat seorang anak hilang di sebuah kota Hawkins. Ternyata ada cerita ke dunia lain yang disebut “Upside Down”! Plot twist yang gila. Season 1 ini misterinya dapat dan pengenalan karakter yang smooth. Winona Ryder sebagai Joyce Byers bawa beban emosional yang berat dengan sempurna, ini buat penonton nangis sih.

Season 2: Alurnya agak melambat di bagian tengah, tapi tetap worth it ditonton. Perkembangan karakternya terlihat, terutama Eleven. Lalu ada pengenalan Maxine yang fresh dan bikin vibes lebih colorful. Banyak orang bilang season ini “underrated“, tapi tetap punya momen emosi pastinya!

Season 3: SEASON 3 PALING KEREN! Dinamika karakter yang udah demasa, akting nya intens, dan yang bikin season ini paling keren adalah nostalgia 80s-nya. Dari setting mall, synth musik, dan pertemanan yang semakin solid bikin season ini banyak disukai orang.

Season 4:  Episode panjang dan munculnya Vecna sebagai penjahat yang legit menakutkan. Season ini ada yang suka dan ada yang kurang suka. Episode 1-7 mungkin agak membosankan, terus episode 8-9 boom! Semuanya seakan terjadi dalam satu waktu. Backstory-nya sangat kompleks. Chemistry Millie Bobby Brown dan Winona Ryder di season ini heartbreaking banget.

 

5 Hal yang Bikin Stranger Things Ikonik?

  1. Nostalgia 80s, dari fashion sampai musik vintage buat aestetik. Bagi yang pernah hidup di era 80-an, serial ini adalah perjalanan nostalgia yang menyenangkan. Sementara bagi generasi muda, Stranger Things menjadi jendela untuk melihat keindahan kesederhanaan masa lalu.
  2. Perkembangan Karakter yang smooth dari season 1 sampai season 4, perkembangan karakternya nya nggak terasa dipaksa. Terutama dari sekelompok anak-anak yang gemar bermain Dungeons & Dragons – Mike, Dustin, Lucas, dan Will – kita melihat mereka tumbuh dan berkembang melalui empat season.
  3. Kombinasi horror, drama, dan komedi yang seimbang. Serial ini tahu kapan harus takut, kapan harus fokus, dan kapan harus lucu. Kemampuan serial ini untuk berpindah antar genre dengan mulus tanpa kehilangan fokus cerita adalah hal yang keren.
  4. Persahabatan dan Kekeluargaannya yang solid, persahabatan Mike, Dustin, Lucas, dan Will adalah fondasi dari seluruh cerita, tidak peduli seberapa menakutkan ancaman yang kita hadapi, bersama teman-teman kita bisa menghadapi apa pun. Mereka menunjukkan loyalitas tanpa batas, saling melindungi, dan tidak pernah menyerah satu sama lain. Bahkan karakter-karakter dewasa seperti Joyce Byers dan Jim Hopper menunjukkan betapa kuatnya cinta dan pengorbanan untuk melindungi orang-orang yang mereka sayangi.
  5. Dunia Upside Down yang Misterius. Dimensi paralel yang gelap dan menakutkan ini menjadi sumber misteri dan ketegangan sepanjang serial. Monster-monster ikonik seperti Demogorgon, Mind Flayer, dan Vecna menjadi antagonis yang menakutkan sekaligus menarik. Setiap season mengungkap lebih banyak rahasia tentang dimensi ini, membuat penonton terus penasaran dan berspekulasi.

 

Nah, season 5 udah di depan mata! Ini final season, jadi harus menutup semua cerita dengan memuaskan. Sekarang tinggal tunggu season 5 dan bersiap-siap untuk petualangan terakhir! Siapa tau ada yang bakal bikin kita terharu. This is the end—jadi pastikan kalian sudah nonton season 1-4 sebelum season 5 tayang!

Highly recommended untuk semua orang! Serius, nggak peduli umur, series ini punya sesuatu untuk semua orang. Ada horror, drama, action, humor, dan nostalgia yang bikin kita penonton betah dan penasaran terus.

Happy watching!

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