JAKARTA: Indonesian Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs launched the Digital Addiction Response Assistance (DARA), a platform providing guidance and counseling to prevent and manage gaming addiction in children.
At the launch event in Jakarta, Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs Meutya Hafid explained that DARA was developed in response to public concern over gaming addiction among the younger generation, which has led to a decline in productivity.
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“There is a general national concern that our youth are becoming less productive due to gaming addiction, but above all, it is the parents who are most troubled,” she said.
The minister noted that while the government supports the growth of the gaming industry to strengthen the national digital ecosystem and encourage children’s creativity, it must also take responsibility for the risks.
She further emphasized that the government must actively work to prevent and address the negative impacts of gaming, specifically the issue of addiction.
Hafid cited a study that shows around 33 percent to 39 percent of high school students in Indonesia have gaming addiction at moderate to severe levels.
Meanwhile, the global gaming addiction prevalence stood at around 1.96 percent to 3 percent of the world’s population, with adolescent and young adult males identified as the highest-risk groups.
On that occasion, she also urged digital platforms operating in Indonesia to help the youth free themselves from gaming addiction.
The ministry’s Director General of the Digital Ecosystem, Edwin Hidayat Abdullah, explained that DARA is accessible through a website featuring educational resources.
The platform, which is designed for both children and parents, offers a variety of educational content, including information about gaming, explanations of the Indonesia Game Rating System (IGRS), and guidance on managing addiction to games and mobile devices.
DARA is also equipped with a chatbot that allows users to ask direct questions about the symptoms of gaming addiction.
If necessary, users can undergo an assessment to determine their level of addiction. The DARA system then provides follow-up recommendations, including consultation referrals.
Users can then schedule appointments with professional counsellors for either in-person or online sessions.
