Child Protection in the Digital Space and the Hope of Preventing Child Grooming

JAKARTA - Government Regulation Number 17 of 2025 concerning Child Protection in the Digital Space (PP Tunas) has received support from the Indonesian Association of Pediatricians (IDAI). Deactivating social media accounts for children under the age of 16 is considered crucial in breaking down cybercrime, especially child grooming.

Nowadays, it is quite difficult to let children off the gadget. Not a few parents give gadgets to children, whether for learning or entertainment, including accessing social media.

However, without realizing it, the use of gadgets, especially without parental supervision, poses a danger to children. One of the dangers that lurk in accessing social media for children under the age of 16.

Therefore, when the government through the Ministry of Communication and Digital (Komdigi) officially restricted access to social media for children under 16 years of age starting March 28, 2026, it was welcomed by many circles because it was hoped that it would prevent the practice of grooming. This policy disables accounts on high-risk platforms, such as TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, X to protect against cyberbullying, addiction, and negative content.

Internet services that reach almost all areas in Indonesia make digital content easier for everyone to access, including children. Behind the ease of accessing digital content, a series of threats lurk for children, one of which is child grooming. The practice of child grooming has often been in the spotlight in recent years, because the incident is often not realized by the victim.

Child grooming is a form of child abuse that is carried out gradually through emotional approaches, not threats or physical violence.

Chairman of IDAI Dr. dr. Piprim Basarah Yanuarso, Sp.A(K) said, child grooming is a planned and systematic psychological manipulation, by building emotional closeness, trust, and giving a false sense of security to children.

"The name of the children can be that they are not aware that this is a manipulation. Moreover, their parents also do not give enough attention or affection. When there is a stranger who pays attention, it is a joy to enter child grooming from the bad person," said Piprim, in a media seminar attended online, Tuesday (31/4/2026).

Meanwhile, the South Eastern Centre Against Sexual Assault and Family Violence (SECASA) defines grooming as a criminal activity carried out by an adult by befriending or having a close emotional relationship with a child. The goal is to persuade the victim to have sexual relations.

Grooming generally begins with paying attention, gifts, feelings of love, until finally building emotional closeness with the child. Unlike physical violence that can be seen clearly, grooming takes place slowly and planned. Therefore, not a few victims are unaware that they are the target of crime.

Member of the Unite Working Coordination of Child Development and Social Pediatrics IDAI Dr. dr. Ariani, Sp.A, Subsp.T.K.P.S(K), M.Kes said, child grooming crimes can be done online through platforms such as social media, online games, or messaging applications.

"Often the perpetrators use fake identities, or disguise themselves with photos, the identity of others," explained Ariani.

The grooming modus operandi is usually carried out by adults against children. The unequal relationship often makes the victim unaware that they are being manipulated. Moreover, children are still growing so they are not emotionally and cognitively mature.

Psychologist at Malahayati University Lampung, Octa Reni Setiawati said, the power relationship gives the highest power to adults who have the power to intimidate and take certain actions against children or victims.

Although in many cases the grooming perpetrator is much older than the victim, Ariani said that aksigrooming can also occur in peer relationships between children and children or between teenagers who are close friends or dating.

"For example, his girlfriend asks for a personal photo online under the pretext 'you are my girlfriend, you are taking a shower again'. If you get the photo, the perpetrator threatens to spread the secret. This is increasing in the digital era, or the perpetrator is committing sexual violence over time," he explained.

The existence of PP Tunas is indeed expected to help prevent the practice of child grooming. However, Ariani emphasized that parents still have an important role in efforts to maintain the safety of children in cyberspace and the real world.

Therefore, parents and teachers in schools must actively participate in child protection efforts. "Parents can't 'oh it's safe', they can't, because the platform is many and not all of them are still complying," said Ariani.

Similarly, Dr. Piprim also advised families to pay attention to children, including by making children as friends for discussion, friends. That way, children do not feel a thirst for affection that is at risk of being manipulated by people who falsely support them.

Family activities such as sports and eating together, according to Dr. Piprim, are important to get used to so that children can establish good communication with their parents.

"And also don't judge (judge) when the child confides. So that the children are not hesitant if there is a mistake against a stranger who approaches and can freely tell their parents. Learn communication patterns, good listeners for children. If children run to the virtual world, that's where criminals can enter," concluded Piprim.