The Indonesian Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Komdigi) has announced plans to develop policies to protect children in digital spaces.
This initiative follows President Prabowo’s directive to pay closer attention to the public’s digital consumption, especially among minors.
Hafiz Noer, a digital expert and researcher at Universitas Gadjah Mada’s Center for Digital Society (CfDS), emphasized the importance of defining clear methods and targets for such policies.
He noted that efforts to enhance digital literacy and societal adaptation are not new. Various grassroots movements and NGOs have been spearheading programs to improve digital literacy through platforms and education.
“I believe the first step should be to evaluate existing policies implemented by Komdigi. At CfDS, we have been collaborating with the ministry and other NGOs, and these initiatives are ongoing,” Noer said on Saturday, Jan. 18.
Noer stressed that new policies should be seen as progressive rather than new initiatives. Evaluating past efforts is essential to identifying gaps and effectively planning future actions.
He suggested that protecting children in digital spaces should begin with enhancing digital literacy and skills.
Previously, digital literacy was proposed as part of the Merdeka Curriculum, an evolution of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) subject from the earlier curriculum.
However, digital education was ultimately not included as a primary subject but as supplementary guidance.
“There’s a distinction between digital skills and digital literacy. While teaching how to use Word or write code is important, understanding digital etiquette and netiquette is even more crucial,” Noer explained.
He added that prioritizing digital literacy with users in mind would enable society to navigate digital spaces more wisely and selectively.
Noer also recommended that the government review the policies of digital platforms such as X, Meta, YouTube, and TikTok. Many of these platforms have implemented measures like content or community guidelines to filter information.
For instance, X provides a “community notes” feature, allowing users to label or add context to potentially misleading content.
“We cannot generalize digital literacy needs across platforms, as each has a unique user base. However, much work remains to be done,” Noer stated.
Digitalization impacts not only children but also parents and the elderly. Noer called for policies addressing the needs of all societal groups, citing the urgency of digital literacy in light of challenges like misinformation and advanced technologies such as DeepFake and generative AI.
A national survey by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) revealed that 33.3% of respondents who encountered DeepFake content believed it to be real, with 4.1% admitting to sharing such content. This highlights the pressing need for digital literacy initiatives.
Noer stressed that the government could not tackle these challenges alone and suggested partnerships with anti-hoax coalitions and digital experts.
“At CfDS, we have various collaborative programs with organizations like Mafindo. We hope the government continues to support these grassroots movements,” he concluded.
Author: Tasya
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Photo: Freepik