[PRESS RELEASE] DISSECTING THE DIGITAL LITERACY GAP IN INDONESIA | DIFUSSION #88

CfDS YouTube Channel, 21 March 2023 – Along with the swift advances in today’s technology, the use of the internet has become a necessity for many people. It is important for internet users to have a comprehensive understanding of digital literacy skills. Center for Digital Society collaborated with KataData in presenting a survey report regarding digital literacy level in Indonesia all around 2022 through Difussion #88: “Dissecting the Digital Literacy Gap in Indonesia”. Through this discussion, Maulana Akbar, M.PASR (Researcher of Katadata Insight Center) presented KataData’s findings which were summarized in the Status of Digital Literacy Indonesia 2022. Difussion #88 was also moderated by Amelinda Pandu K. (CfDS Researcher). This program can be re-watched via the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ok9f3X-BtgU. 

KataData, alongside Kominfo, have been conducting an annual survey to measure the level of digital literacy among Indonesians. KataData has also been analyzing its growth and development from year to year. This survey is based on the status of digital literacy in Indonesia and evidence-based policies in developing digital literacy. In building a framework for the status of digital literacy in Indonesia, KataData regularly compiles the Pillars of the Digital Literacy Index. The index pays attention to digital skills, digital ethics, digital safety, and digital culture in Indonesia.

Maulana explained the field facts found by KataData regarding the behavior of digital platforms users in Indonesia throughout 2022. It was found that there was a decrease in the intensity of internet use in Indonesia. However, the pattern of internet usage per hour is still equivalent. Gen Z and Gen Y use the internet for the longest time, in which they access the internet for more than 6 hours per day.

Regarding the motivation behind the high intensity of internet use in Indonesia, KataData revealed that the majority of people in Indonesia use the internet for socializing, as well as for entertainment, work, and accessing public services. KataData also saw a trend of new social media choices in 2022, where TikTok is the social media with the highest user acquisition in Indonesia. Even though most of them are already ‘fluent’ in using the internet, 60% of KataData’s survey respondents still often hear hoaxes about social issues, and most respondents believe in hoaxes on political issues.

It was found that Indonesia’s national digital literacy index edged up by 0.05%. The index of digital skills, digital ethics, and digital safety has increased. However, the digital culture index experienced a slight regress. Provinces in Java and Kalimantan dominated the top 10 highest digital literacy index scores in Indonesia, with Yogyakarta being the province with the highest score. A pleasant finding to discover that in fact, the digital literacy index between regions in Indonesia tends to be balanced. When it comes to subject categories, KataData claimed that the digital literacy index for men is higher than for women, and the digital literacy index for community groups in the government and education segments is higher than other societal segments. 

Behind the progress of Indonesia’s digital literacy skills, there are still dangers lurking. “Protection of personal data is still a serious problem, especially regarding the leakage of personal data on social media,” said Maulana. Nonetheless, KataData has seen the most common preventative effort performed by Indonesians to protect their personal data, which is by using a different password for each account. “The problem of personal data security in Indonesia is still an unfinished business for stakeholders,” as concluded by Maulana.

Writer: Allysa Putri Rendry
Editor: Ni Kadek Ayu Pratiwi