Child grooming has sparked discussions in Indonesia following the release of the book Broken Strings by Aurelie Moeremans. Dr. Rohimi Zam Zam, a psychology expert at Universitas Muhammadiyah Jakarta (UMJ), stresses that this psychological manipulation causes deep trauma for children. Parents and educators are urged to enhance education and supervision to prevent sexual exploitation.
The phenomenon of child grooming is now in the spotlight in Indonesia, triggered by the book Broken Strings by Aurelie Moeremans. Child grooming is defined as a psychological manipulation process by adults to build trust and emotional attachment with children or adolescents, aimed at harassment or sexual exploitation.
Dr. Rohimi Zam Zam, S.Psi., SH, M.Pd, Psi, a psychology expert at UMJ who is also Chair of PP 'Aisyiyah and a lecturer in PG-PAUD at the Faculty of Education UMJ, describes child grooming as a serious and increasingly alarming issue. "Perpetrators usually pretend to be friends, trusted figures, or sources of attention and safety, gradually lowering the victim's and their surroundings' defenses," she stated on Tuesday (January 27, 2026).
The process is gradual: perpetrators pretend to be friends or trusted figures, build trust and emotional bonds to lower the victim's defenses, deceive the family, and exploit the child's emotional vulnerabilities due to loneliness or family issues. This can occur directly or through digital media like social platforms and online games.
The impacts on children are severe, including deep psychological trauma, anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and behavioral issues such as aggressiveness, social withdrawal, difficulty forming healthy relationships, identity confusion, and prolonged shame.
For prevention, Rohimi emphasizes ongoing education. Parents should teach personal boundaries from an early age, foster open communication, and monitor children's digital activities. "Supervision is not to restrict, but to protect," she said. Teachers serve as frontline guardians by understanding child grooming concepts, recognizing student behavior changes, and communicating with parents. Synergy among home, school, and community is key to safeguarding children from sexual crimes.
