A recent study by the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia, United States, found that the more time teenagers spend accessing social media, the weaker their reading literacy and vocabulary mastery become, which can ultimately affect their academic performance.
Meanwhile, the Indonesian government officially enforced restrictions on children under 16’s access to social media and online games starting March 28, 2026, under the PP Tunas regulation. This policy applies to high-risk platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, Bigo Live, and Roblox.
A lecturer in Indonesian Language and Literature at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), Dr. Sailal Arimi, stated that the policy to limit social media access for children under 16 is both strategic and relevant to implement today. He noted that children at this age have not yet developed sufficient capacity to absorb diverse knowledge, content, and behaviors, nor are they fully capable of distinguishing what is considered appropriate or inappropriate in society.
“Limiting access will greatly assist in content selection, especially for vulnerable groups such as children and teenagers,” said Dr. Arimi on Tuesday (Apr. 14).
Dr. Arimi acknowledged that in today’s era of rapid advances in communication and information technology, the use of digital devices in daily life is unavoidable. According to him, device usage can have both positive and negative impacts.
It can be positive when used to broaden knowledge, build a portfolio, develop into a capable young individual, foster healthy social connections, and gain wider insights. On the other hand, it can have negative effects when used merely to spend hours playing online games or consuming social media content, potentially exposing users to harmful material such as violence and criminal behavior. It may also lead to poor social relationships, including antisocial tendencies, harassment, and bullying.
“The key issue now is to focus on the functional use of devices. We must ensure that children under 16 use them positively for learning, skill development, and building healthy social networks,” he explained.
According to Dr. Arimi, the most appropriate approach at present is to limit children’s and teenagers’ access to social media while also designing algorithmic technologies that can classify users appropriately. Regulating individual choices between right and wrong is far more difficult.
“Interactive technology must be designed and directed to function effectively, ensuring that device usage is truly age-appropriate,” he suggested.
Author: Jesi
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Jasmine
Photo: Freepik