Malang, (malangkota.go.id) – Internet and social media user penetration in Indonesia continues to increase. Hootsuite research in January 2021 revealed that the number of internet users in Indonesia reached 202,6 million people (73,7% of the population), while social media users reached 170 million people (61,8% of the population). Behind the positive side of advances in information and communication technology, there are threats that future generations must be aware of.
Mayor Sutiaji in various moments often reminds the importance of building digital literacy in order to maintain the positive essence of information and communication technology. "We gather but our minds are not gathered," said Sutiaji looking at the phenomenon of rampant hate speech, spreading disgrace, pointless debates and divisive attitudes that are circulating due to dependence on the virtual world such as social media which often reduces friendship.
Observing the research results quoted from theconversation.com which were presented at the Asian Network for Public Opinion Research (ANPOR) Annual Conference in November 2018, all age groups have almost the same tendency to spread hoaxes and are not limited to a particular age category.
Building awareness of the negative impacts of the digital era is the background of the thinking of the Klojen District Children's Forum with the facilitation of the Malang City Government (Pemkot) to hold wise social media coaching for children and parents in the Klojen District Hall, Saturday (4/12/2021).
Klojen Sub-district Head Drs. Heri Sunarko, M.Si when opening the coaching event hoped that the participants of the activity who were recently selected as administrators of the Children's Forum at the sub-district and village levels would be able to spread knowledge to their families and peers around them.
"Social media, the internet, please use it, but my beloved children, remain children who do not forget culture and ethics. Take care of yourself as best you can against crimes on social media," said Heri.
Still fresh in the memory is the incident of bullying of female students uploaded in cyberspace and now the case is being handled by the Malang City Police. Therefore, the Head of the Child Protection Section of the Social Service P3AP2KB Miswardhani, S.Sos assessed that coaching wisely on social media is very good as one form of preventive educational activity to strengthen Malang towards a Child-Friendly City.
Meanwhile, Head of Public Information Service Section of Malang City Communication and Informatics Agency (Diskominfo) Pandu Zanuar Sulistyo who was appointed as a resource person shared some wise tips on social media. Among them are protecting and not sharing personal data such as mobile phone numbers, savings accounts, identity cards, parents' names, date of birth to health history and not being tempted to share personal photos that exploit sexual aspects of oneself.
"My little brothers and sisters, never share nude photos with close friends, let alone people you just met. There are many sexual predators with various modes. Be careful," Pandu appealed.
In addition to protecting personal data, being wise in cyberspace is also important by avoiding carelessly clicking on unclear links or giving application approval without reading the terms and conditions, expressing opinions freely but politely, not producing or participating in spreading unclear news that has the potential to be a hoax, and avoiding cyberbullying.
Some modes of bullying, he said, include publishing other people's personal data (doxing), stalking in cyberspace which then leads to stalking in the real world (cyber stalking), distribution of pornographic photos/videos with the aim of revenge accompanied by acts of intimidation and blackmail (revenge porn).
Pandu emphasized an important thing in child protection, namely the presence of parents who understand and can establish close communication with children in order to detect bullying incidents early on. A fact from the 2021 cyberbullying statistics research revealed that 62% of teenagers did not want to tell their parents about the bullying they experienced. "Parents need to be present not only as fathers or mothers, but also as role models and friends in the eyes of children," concluded Pandu. (ndu/ram)
