World Book Day, commemorated annually on April 23, serves as a momentum to reflect on the state of literacy in Indonesia. Amid the rapid growth of social media and technological advancements, the meaning of reading among younger generations is considered to be shifting. Literacy is no longer merely about reading texts, but also about how individuals interact with various sources of information.
Professor of the Department of Literature and Language at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FIB UGM), Professor Aprinus Salam, stated that literacy conditions among young people cannot be viewed uniformly. Due to differences in background, needs, engagement with education, and literacy activities themselves. Categorization is necessary to better understand the literacy landscape.
“Young people are highly diverse. We need categories. Those still engaged in education and literacy must remain in literate environments, especially since current technology actually supports this,” he said on Friday (Apr. 24).
Professor Salam explained that technological developments, including social media, have opened new spaces for literacy practices. However, the diverse nature of social media means that not all content carries equal literacy value. Some content remains relevant to literacy activities, while other content is primarily oriented toward entertainment and economic gain.
“Some social media content still overlaps with literate conditions, but much of it is dominated by entertainment and economic motives,” he added.
Furthermore, the definition of reading needs to be understood more broadly in today’s context. Reading in an academic sense differs from consuming information on social media. This shift is expected to continue evolving.
“We need to clarify what is meant by reading. In the future, within what is called posthumanism, the concept of literacy will continue to change. What matters is how we integrate humans, technology, and the environment in literacy practices,” he explained.
Social media should not be positioned as a threat to reading culture. Instead, digital platforms can become part of an interconnected and supportive literacy ecosystem. An integrative approach is considered key in responding to this transformation.
“Social media should not be seen as a problem, but as a new companion that needs to be integrated as part of a mutually supportive way of life,” he said.
He also noted that the assumption that literacy levels among young people are continuously declining cannot be generalized. The degree of engagement in reading activities depends heavily on individual needs and contexts. Moreover, the meaning of reading itself needs to be broadened.
“The issue is not whether people read or not, but what they read and for what purpose. There is no guarantee that those who read more are necessarily better,” he remarked.
On the other hand, debates regarding the differences between physical books and digital books have also drawn attention. He argued that both are part of evolving habits and cultural practices. Today’s younger generation tends to be more adaptive to digital formats, although preferences for printed books still exist.
“Reading comprehension and interest depend more on social conditions and individual capacity than on the medium itself,” he explained.
Nevertheless, he predicted that the use of digital books would continue to increase alongside technological development. This shift is an inevitable historical dynamic. Adaptation is therefore essential in responding to these changes.
“Gradually, the culture of reading digital books will continue to grow. History will move in that direction,” he concluded.
Author: Diyana Khairunnisa
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Jasmine Ferdian
Photo: Freepik