MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, YOGYAKARTA – As technology rapidly evolves, President of ‘Aisyiyah Salmah Orbayinah urged parents to take proactive steps in managing its impact on family life. She emphasized that while digital advancements bring many benefits, they also pose challenges that families should navigate wisely.
Salmah highlighted how digitalization has significantly influenced daily life, including parenting and family interactions.
“Technology is advancing at an incredible pace, affecting families in many ways. The key question is how parents can adapt and guide their children to use technology for positive growth,” said Salmah at the Ramadan preaching on Saturday, March 15, .
As Indonesia prepares for Indonesia Emas 2045 (Golden Indonesia 2045) , a vision for national progress, Salmah stressed that strong families are essential to achieving this goal.
“A strong and harmonious family lays the foundation for a progressive society. A truly successful family is one that upholds moral values, supports each other, and fosters love and care,” stated Salmah.
Salmah also emphasized that Keluarga Sakinah (a peaceful and resilient family) is key to maintaining stability in the digital age.
Salmah encouraged families to maintain healthy relationships by understanding technology’s impact and setting boundaries. Quoting the hadith Baiti Jannati (“My home is my paradise”), she reminded parents that a loving, respectful, and faith-centered home creates harmony.
“A household built on peace, love, and mutual respect becomes a source of happiness. It is our responsibility to keep our families close to Allah and away from negative influences,” she said.
Aisyiyah has long prioritized family strengthening, starting with the introduction of the notion of “Keluarga Sakinah” in 1985. Salmah explained that after the 41st Muktamar (Congress), Aisyiyah developed “Tuntunan Menuju Keluarga Sakinah”, a guidebook on building resilient families. The 47th Muktamar in Makassar reinforced “Keluarga Sakinah” as a strategic focus for Aisyiyah’s second century.
The guidebook was later formalized in the 2014 Tarjih National Meeting, making it an essential reference for Muhammadiyah and ‘Aisyiyah families.
“This guide provides a solid framework for strengthening families. It is key to overcoming modern challenges and ensuring a better future for our children,” explained Salmah.
Meanwhile, Chairperson of the ‘Aisyiyah Council for Religious Preaching and Opinion and Head of the preaching committee Evi Sofia Inayati acknowledged that digital advancements present new challenges for Indonesian families. One major concern is children’s unrestricted access to online content.
“Today, children are not only taught by their schoolteachers but also by the digital world. The challenge is how we can create a safer and more positive online environment for them,” she said.
She hoped that the discussions would help identify key digital-era challenges and provide solutions to strengthen family resilience.
