Deputy Minister for Population and Family Development (Wamendukbangga) Ratu Ayu Isyana Bagoes Oka has urged parents to continuously learn about their children’s current interests and to encourage more physical activities, such as exercising together, to prevent them from becoming addicted to games and gadgets.
Isyana delivered this message in response to media questions after speaking at the Double Check discussion themed The Role of Family Development in Welcoming a Golden Indonesia 2045, organized by the Presidential Communication Office (PCO) in collaboration with Gempita, in Jakarta (9/8).
“Parents must always be willing to learn, to keep upgrading themselves, including being familiar with current online applications. Children often learn faster than their parents. Parents have to catch up with that,” Isyana said.
According to her, children naturally seek “cheap dopamine,” easily obtained through scrolling on social media or playing online games—something that can lead to addiction.
“One of the solutions, as Bu Vero (Veronica Tan) mentioned earlier, is sports. Dopamine can also be obtained from sunlight and outdoor activities. The human body is designed to move, not just sit and scroll,” she emphasized.
Previously, Deputy Minister for Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection, Veronica Tan, explained one of her ministry’s programs—Ruang Bersama Indonesia (RBI). RBI is designed as a safe and inclusive space for women, children, and surrounding communities, enabling them to be empowered, learn, play, and foster creativity.
Through the program, Veronica hopes children will have access to safe, creative spaces, be more engaged with traditional and creative games as well as sports, and stay away from gadget addiction.
