JAKARTA, March 12 (Xinhua) -- The Indonesian government is emphasizing stricter regulations and increased supervision to protect children from harmful content and online bullying on social media, Communication and Digital Affairs Minister Meutya Hafid has said.

"We see this disaster happening right in front of our eyes. Our children are losing focus, becoming addicted to social media, and are increasingly vulnerable to online exploitation," Hafid was quoted as saying in a press release issued by the ministry on Wednesday.

Speaking at a meeting with representatives of global digital platform providers at the ministry's headquarters on Tuesday, Hafid underscored the need for stricter regulations to ensure children's safety in the digital space.

"This is not just about platform self-regulation; it also requires active government involvement," she noted.

She highlighted the need to strengthen child protection measures on digital platforms, noting that many children under the age of 13 continue to use social media despite existing restrictions.

"If rules exist but remain ineffective, then there are loopholes that must be addressed. We want to ensure that platforms truly enforce age restrictions instead of relying on self-regulation mechanisms that are not strong enough," she added.

In addition to enforcing stricter access controls based on user age, the government is also considering additional measures, such as limiting screen time for children and implementing more accurate age verification systems.

Last month, Hafid announced that her ministry is establishing a task force to develop policies on strengthening child protection in the digital space. The task force will include representatives from various ministries, academia, child education experts, psychology institutions, child protection organizations, and other relevant stakeholders. Enditem

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