Children Are The Most Vulnerable To Receiving Negative Content On Social Media, Here's How To Anticipate It

Head of the IDAI Child Protection Task Force (Satgas) Dr Eva Devita Harmoniati/Photo: Antara

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Pediatrician Association (IDAI) said the threat to children being victims of negative content such as sexual photos or videos is greater when participating in Distance Learning (PJJ).

"During the pandemic, many children access online media or social media because their learning is done remotely (online). So their chance to be exposed to negative content or become victims of online sexual crimes is getting bigger," said the Head of the IDAI Child Protection Task Force, Dr. Eva Devita Harmoniati, Sp.A (K) in the Public Seminar on Preventing Sexual Violence in Children which was followed online in Jakarta, Wednesday, July 13.

She said the COVID-19 pandemic had a very significant impact on the world of education. All learning activities must be carried out online from a considerable distance.

Children are then forced to understand and use technology, including social media without having clear boundaries in finding or getting learning resources. So that their chances of being exposed to negative content or becoming victims of online sexual crimes are getting bigger.

Based on survey data from ECPAT Indonesia, she said, three out of 10 children received indecent messages in the form of images, direct porn videos or links to images or videos that were uncomfortable and smelled sensual during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Eva predicts that the number is actually higher than what has been reported. This is because most children who are victims of sexual behavior or crimes choose to remain silent or withdraw from their environment.

“This could be the tip of the iceberg phenomenon. This means, where the actual number is higher than reports or complaints that come, such as to ECPAT, the PPPA Ministry or KPAI," she said.

Meanwhile, some sexual violence that affects children other than sensual photos or videos is the existence of pornographic content creation activities, sharing photos of naked or almost naked children with each other, establishing relationships with perpetrators through social media to make social contacts to extortion to send pornographic content.

She added that this condition is very worrying, especially since there are still many parents who do not understand the forms of sexual crimes that occur to children.

Thus, IDAI asks every parent to start increasing their child's knowledge related to reproductive health, such as introducing children to each member of their body and how to take a stand if someone forces them to touch the vital organ as a form of preventive measure.

In addition, assistance when accessing the internet is also required. Parents should also be more careful in recognizing the symptoms of the impact of sexual behavior such as changes in the child's character, decreased appetite and there are points on the child's lower body that feel pain.

“This violence against children is very worrying. Research shows that children who experience various kinds of traumatic events, including violence whether it is physical, emotional or sexual violence, then the impact does not only stop at that time but the impact is long term,“ said Eva Devita Harmoniati.