Extremism Exposure: Indonesian Children Attracted to Violence, Not Ideology, Says BNPT

Children exposed to extremist ideologies in Indonesia are primarily attracted to the violent concepts within these belief systems, rather than deeply understanding the underlying doctrines, according to the National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT).

Kolonel Sus R. Tjandra Sulistiyono, head of BNPT's Planning, Law, and Public Relations Bureau, stated that the agency has been actively involved in rehabilitating and guiding around 250 minors who have been exposed to extremism. He explained that these children, categorized as Terrorism-Connected Children (TCC), are influenced by a spectrum of thoughts leading to violent actions. Their interest, however, is often sparked by the narratives of violence itself, not a thorough grasp of the ideology.

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Children TCC generally do not delve into the context of the ideology in question, but rather focus or are more interested in the concept of violence inherent in an ideology.

BNPT has identified several ideologies influencing these children, including jihadism, anarchism, nihilism, Neo-Nazism, White Supremacy, communism, misogyny, and violent cults. Tjandra stressed the critical importance of parental and societal supervision of children's interactions, particularly in the digital realm, which serves as a potent channel for disseminating violent content across diverse ideological lines.

Echoing BNPT's concerns, Aris Adi Leksono, chairman of the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI), noted the increasing use of digital spaces and social media by radical groups to target minors. He highlighted that electronic devices often act as the primary gateway for the infiltration of radical doctrines, with many cases of exposure originating from online activities. Leksono urged parents to closely monitor their children's online access.

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Therefore, parents need to pay attention to what their children are accessing.