Strengthening digital literacy is expected to boost the public’s thinking power, so they are not easily provoked by false information.
By
TATANG MULYANA SINAGA
·4 minutes read
ANGGER PUTRANTO
The editorial staff of Kompas Daily, Djarum Foundation and Sanata Dharma University were present in the discussion on Digital Literacy, "Inundation of Information, Sorting Hoaxes and Fake News" Thursday (26/8/2021). The three agencies agree that the progress of society and the nation is also influenced by the community's ability to manage the truth.
JAKARTA, KOMPAS — The ability to identify hoaxes and baseless news is increasingly needed in the current era of digital information flood. Strengthening digital literacy is expected to boost the public’s thinking power, so they are not easily provoked by false information.
Based on 2021 data from Statistics Indonesia (BPS), as much as 62.1 percent of the Indonesian population has internet access. The high number of internet users is inseparable from the rapid distribution of mobile phones. As much as 90.54 percent of households has at least one mobile phone number.
Director General of Information and Application Semuel Abrijani Pangerapan at the Communication and Information (Kominfo) Ministry said that increasing intensity in digital space, including social media use, needed to be accompanied by building critical awareness in consuming information. "In the era of digital transformation, increasing the ability to think critically is a priority," he said in Jakarta on Thursday (2/2/2023).
The Communication and Information Ministry launched a digital literacy program in 2021. One of its missions is to educate the public to avoid hoaxes and online fraud. The program is based on four main pillars, namely digital skills, digital ethics, digital security, and digital culture.
In its first year, the program succeeded in reaching 12.5 million people. The digital literacy program targeted around 6 million people in 2022.
"This year, we (digital literacy program) are targeting 5.5 million people. We will try to be efficient with the existing budget,” said Semuel.
The 2022 National Digital Literacy Index achieved a score of 3.54 points, an increase of 0.05 points compared to 2021. The survey involved 10,000 internet users aged 13-70 years in 514 regencies and cities across 34 provinces.
This year, we (digital literacy program) are targeting 5.5 million people. We will try to be efficient with the existing budget.
On its initial launch in 2020, the index stood at 3.46 points. It then increased to 3.49 points in 2021, and then to 3.54 points in 2022.
According to the 2022 survey, 72.6 percent of respondents said they usually got their information from social media. Social media also ranked the second most trusted news source after television.
However, verifying the information received was still low. As much as 52.2 percent of respondents said they did not check the information they received, whether in the form of news, pictures, videos, or social media posts.
KOMPAS/RIZA FATHONI
A visitor reads a book between the aisles of the Gramedia Matraman bookstore, Jakarta, Thursday (2/2/2023). In the midst of the swift digital era and the presence of books in digital or electronic form, interest in conventional books persists.
In fact, verifying information through credible sources was very important to check for accuracy. "Simply put, if there is big or important information, it is impossible to miss on the trusted mass media," Semuel said.
The 2022 National Digital Literacy Index survey also found that 55.9 percent of respondents often came across hoaxes on Facebook. This was followed by 16 percent on online media, 13.9 percent on WhatsApp, and 13.1 percent on YouTube.
According to Semuel, there were three main groups of digital users. The first group was that of browsers or searchers. This type of user was qualified in finding information on an author or news presenter.
The second group was social media users who relied highly on friendships. So, they were able to correct each other's information among themselves, and this was positive.
The third group was the type of users who received information one-way. So, this type did not have any alternative information for comparison.
The digital literacy program emphasizes the digital security pillar, because digital security had the lowest score among all four pillars, at 3.12 points. Meanwhile, digital skills had 3.52 points, digital ethics 3.68 points, and digital culture 3.84 points.
Hoax industry
Siberkreasi chairman Donny Budi Utoyo said spreading hoaxes had become an industry in Indonesia and many other countries. "There are people who fund the production of hoaxes. What must be done is to make people immune to hoaxes. This must involve many parties," he said.
Hoaxes tend to follow issues trending among the public. The last two years, for example, Covid-19 and vaccination issues have dominated hoaxes. Ahead of the 2024simultaneous elections, hoaxes on political issues are expected to increase.
Imagine how terrifying it will be in 2023 and 2024.
According to the National Digital Literacy Index, “social media is the most trusted news source after television”, noted Donny.
“In fact, social media is a battlefield between the positive and the negative. This is a large job. Imagine how terrifying it will be in 2023 and 2024," he added.
Digital literacy still faced many challenges. Global platforms also had an important role and responsibility in educating people. "So far, education has been carried out together. How to collaborate to develop critical thinking among people in digital spaces," he said.
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