Following the SMAN 72 Explosion, President Prabowo Highlights Online Games Like PUBG
President Prabowo Subianto will consider restricting online games containing violent elements, following the explosion at SMAN 72 Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta.
The statement was delivered by Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi, who stated that the President is paying particular attention to the potential negative influence of online games on the behavior of the younger generation.
“He (President Prabowo) said that we still need to think about limiting and finding solutions to the effects of online games,” Prasetyo said in his statement on Saturday (November 8, 2025).
Prasetyo explained that some online games contain content deemed uneducational, particularly games featuring elements of war and the use of firearms. There are concerns that this could influence the mindset and emotions of teenagers.
“Because it’s possible that these online games contain unhealthy content, and that could impact our future generations,” he added.
One of the games highlighted by President Prabowo is PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG), a war-themed game that allows players to virtually learn various types of weapons.
“Take PUBG, for example. We believe restrictions are necessary because these types of weapons are very easy to learn, and that makes them more dangerous,” Prasetyo explained.
According to him, the government will review appropriate steps to balance freedom to play games with protecting the psychological and character development of children and adolescents.
The review is planned to involve several ministries and institutions, including the Ministry of Communication and Digital, the Ministry of Education, and child protection agencies, to formulate proportionate policies.
