Rhea Tritami | CNN Indonesia | Thursday, July 23, 2026, 5:15 PM WIB
The relentless march of the digital world, while ushering in unprecedented convenience and connectivity, has simultaneously cast a long shadow over the landscape of modern parenting. Gadgets and the vast entertainment platforms they unlock are frequently perceived as adversaries, encroaching upon children’s attention and, by extension, their development. This sentiment is particularly palpable as the world observes National Children’s Day, a time typically dedicated to celebrating and safeguarding the well-being of the younger generation, yet increasingly intertwined with the complexities of digital immersion.
The pervasive nature of digital technology is undeniable. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, educational institutions worldwide have intensified their reliance on digital tools for teaching and learning, with the emergence of fully online schooling becoming a normalized reality. Parents, too, find themselves inextricably linked to their devices, utilizing them for communication, commerce, entertainment, and professional endeavors. In this hyper-connected digital era, a critical question arises: Is restricting children’s screen time still a relevant and effective strategy, or is it time for parents to fundamentally adapt their approach?
The Paradigm Shift: From Restriction to Adaptation
A significant segment of parents grapples with the omnipresent influence of screens. Some adopt a strict stance, implementing rigid screen time limits, driven by the fear that excessive gadget use could irrevocably damage their children’s social development. Others employ parental control applications, aiming to curate and restrict the content their children access. However, the efficacy and continued relevance of these approaches are increasingly being called into question.
Dr. Charyna Ayu, an Associate Professor and Lecturer at the Faculty of Education at the State Islamic International University of Indonesia (UIII), argues that the notion of simply limiting screen time has become an outdated paradigm. Drawing upon her expertise in developmental psychology, with a specialization in empathy and the well-being of children, adolescents, and students, Dr. Ayu advocates for a broader ecological perspective, inspired by the work of Urie Bronfenbrenner.
"Technology is now intrinsically woven into every facet of a child’s life," Dr. Ayu stated in an interview with CNNIndonesia.com at the UIII campus in Depok on Tuesday, July 7th. "It can no longer be separated from daily family interactions, or the communication between home and school via screens."
Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory posits that an individual’s development is shaped by a nested series of interconnected environmental systems, ranging from the immediate family to broader societal, cultural, and environmental changes. These systems include the microsystem (immediate surroundings), mesosystem (interactions between microsystems), exosystem (indirect environmental influences), macrosystem (cultural values), and chronosystem (historical context and changes over time).
The advent of information technology, the internet, and social media can be understood as influential factors operating within the chronosystem, particularly amplified by events like the pandemic. The necessity for children to engage in remote learning via digital devices during the COVID-19 crisis serves as a prime example of this phenomenon.
Furthermore, technology can exert influence on the exosystem. For instance, a company’s policy allowing remote work can alter the dynamics between parents and children, and consequently, children’s relationship with technology. Children may observe and internalize their parents’ habits of using gadgets for professional purposes, thereby shaping their own digital behaviors.
Given this pervasive integration of digital technology into virtually every layer of a child’s life, the strategy of merely restricting its use appears increasingly irrelevant. Dr. Ayu points to a growing body of research that suggests a direct, linear correlation between screen time and a child’s well-being is not always evident.
"It [information technology] has permeated every aspect of life, shaping children’s own patterns, and indeed, the patterns of parents as well," Dr. Ayu observed. She further elaborated that the design of platform algorithms can subtly influence what individuals perceive, ultimately impacting cultural norms and expectations, including those surrounding parenting.
In this evolving digital landscape, adaptation emerges as a crucial coping mechanism. However, adaptation does not equate to a complete relinquishing of parental oversight, allowing children unfettered access to their devices without active engagement.
The Panicked Parent: Generational Transitions in the Digital Age
The current generation of parents largely comprises Generation X and Millennials. These cohorts have experienced the significant technological transition from analog to digital mediums firsthand. Dr. Ayu identifies a sense of "panic" within the Millennial generation as they navigate the complexities of parenthood in this digital era.
"One significant observation is that the ‘screen time’ paradigm often stems from the anxieties of a generation that is itself still learning and exploring," Dr. Ayu commented. "They are still trying to grasp what this is all about."
As a generation that has witnessed and adapted to technological shifts, many parents find themselves in a state of confusion, mirroring the initial fascination and exploration their children exhibit with new technologies. The phenomenon of "sharenting"—the practice of oversharing children’s content online without explicit consent—is cited as an example of this digital euphoria experienced by parents newly engaging with social media.
This, according to Dr. Ayu, arises because this generation of parents has not been adequately trained in healthy digital engagement. Unlike their children, who may receive specific digital literacy education through formal schooling, parents are often left to learn through self-directed exploration.
"Therefore, we should not be ashamed to admit that we are learning together, just like our children," Dr. Ayu emphasized. "This means we have a shared space or zone that we need to explore collectively."
Instead of succumbing to panic by attempting to rigidly control their children’s digital activities, parents are encouraged to adopt a new perspective. Rather than solely focusing on the duration of screen time, a more constructive approach involves examining what essential activities are being displaced by gadget use.
"What is screen time replacing? What child activities are being substituted?" Dr. Ayu questioned. "For instance, if sleep time is being replaced by screen time, that becomes problematic."
Beyond sleep, parents should intervene when screen time begins to encroach upon other crucial aspects of a child’s life, including their relationships with family. The intervention, however, should not be about outright prohibition but rather about guidance and support to foster positive digital engagement.
As long as children can maintain their daily routines, perform adequately in their academic pursuits, and continue to engage in their hobbies, Dr. Ayu believes there is no cause for undue parental alarm.
"We should look at the child’s behavioral changes," she advised. "As long as they can conduct their daily activities well, maintain good academic performance, and pursue their hobbies effectively, these are the simplest indicators."
The conversation surrounding children and technology is a dynamic one, constantly evolving with the pace of innovation. As National Children’s Day serves as a reminder of our collective responsibility towards the well-being of the younger generation, it also compels us to re-evaluate our parenting strategies in the face of an increasingly digitized world. The focus is shifting from futile attempts at containment to a more collaborative and adaptive approach, where parents and children embark on the digital journey together, fostering healthy habits and ensuring that technology serves as a tool for growth rather than a source of detriment. This recalibration of parental strategy is not merely a trend but a necessary evolution for raising children who are not only digitally literate but also emotionally resilient and well-adjusted in the 21st century.
