technology

Spreading Messages Of Kindness In The Digital Space Full Of Internet Literacy

As part of the Digital Literacy program in Indonesia, the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (Kemenkominfo) is organizing a chip-in on strengthening the digital skills of Indonesian society called #MakinCakapDigital 2024 for the community segment in the Central Java region with the theme "Delivering Good Messages through Social Media" on Saturday (1/6/2024).

This time, speakers for the #MakinCakapDigital Digital Literacy program in 2024 are here, who are experts in their fields, including Lecturer and Digital Practitioner Anang Darmawan, Digital Literacy Activist at Pesantren Muhammad Mustafid, and Key Opinion Leader Ustad Hammad Rosyadi.

The latest survey from We Are Social and Kepios 2022 states that internet users in Indonesia continue to increase every year, now reaching 204 million users or already used by 73.7 percent of the Indonesian population. Around 80.1 percent of the Indonesian population uses the internet to search for information and can spend 8 hours and 36 minutes a day using the internet.

In his presentation, Mustafid mentioned that the development of information technology has created a new space that we now call the digital space. "This new space redirects various human activities such as politics, social, economic, cultural, and spiritual aspects from the 'real world' into various forms of artificial substitution," explained Mustafid.

In the same occasion, Anang stated that it is undeniable that social media currently dominates as the main source of information for the public in the digital era. However, this dominance can have an impact on the accuracy and quality of the news circulating. The challenge for the media and the public is to ensure that the information received can be trusted.

When it comes to spreading good messages, it is not without its challenges. Hammad explained that when uploading content with good messages, the information may be doubted by the audience or they may disagree, resulting in different opinions. To minimize these things, you can create content with strong informational foundations that promote kindness.

"Create content with clear and reliable references. Choose and select photos or videos for positive content, and don't forget to choose platforms that prioritize our safety and privacy," said Hammad.

The ability to access, select, understand, analyze, verify, evaluate, and distribute information in the digital world, as mentioned by Mustafid, is included in digital literacy, which encompasses skills, security, culture, and digital ethics.

Furthermore, Anang added that smart audiences receive information by taking verification steps. This can be done by identifying the source or checking the origin of the information and ensuring that the source is trustworthy. Data validation involves comparing it with other sources to ensure accuracy, and checking expertise involves verifying whether the content is original or modified.

Verifying the information of positive messages on social media, according to Anang, is beneficial in preventing the spread of false or misleading information, enabling individuals to make wiser and more responsible decisions, and enhancing the credibility of the audience in the digital environment.

Mustafid reminds us that culturally aware internet-savvy audiences view technology as a tool, not a tool that manipulates users. They transition from being consumers to producers, from being passive to active, from being followers to trendsetters, from spreading hoaxes to spreading positive messages, and from empty messages to useful information.

"Always check and recheck. Is the information we share beneficial or not, does it hurt or offend others, is it sensitive to cultural values, is it timely, and pay attention to where we share it," Mustafid advised.