Indonesia's Annual Divorce Cases Near 400,000
Claims Raised Over Impact of SNS and Mobile Phones
In recent years, the annual number of divorces in Indonesia has remained around 400,000, raising growing social concerns. Against this backdrop, the Indonesian Minister of Religious Affairs has drawn attention by warning that "smartphones and social networking services (SNS) are encouraging infidelity and extramarital affairs."
Recently, the Indonesian Minister of Religious Affairs warned that mobile phones and social networking services (SNS) encourage infidelity and harm marital relationships. The photo is an image to aid understanding of the article. Pixabay
According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP) on November 5, Minister Nasaruddin Umar stated on October 30 that "mobile phones make infidelity and extramarital affairs easier," warning, "If we are not careful, we will become slaves to SNS." He pointed out that "the digital environment is shaking the trust in human relationships, and it is especially accelerating emotional disconnection between married couples."
In fact, according to Statistics Indonesia (BPS), there were approximately 399,000 divorces in the country last year. It was reported that women filed 78% of these divorce lawsuits. Experts analyze that, in addition to economic pressures, domestic violence, and the weakening of religious norms, infidelity and extramarital affairs through SNS are emerging as major causes of marital breakdown.
Premarital Counseling Made Mandatory, But...
To curb the rising divorce rate, the Indonesian government introduced a "mandatory premarital counseling system" last year. Under this system, all couples must complete a counseling program covering family relationships, financial management, and religious values before they can receive marriage registration documents. The government aims to prevent marital conflict and enhance family stability through this initiative.
However, experts believe that this system alone is unlikely to bring about substantial change. They argue that there is still a lack of response to structural issues such as infidelity, early marriage, and domestic violence, and that strengthening social and economic safety nets must be pursued in parallel.
"Strong Families Build a Strong Nation"
Minister Umar emphasized, "A strong family is essential to build a great nation," adding that "a crisis in the institution of marriage is a problem that shakes the very foundation of society." Experts agree that in order to maintain families, ethical education and family policies tailored to the digital era must be implemented together.
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