- 31/03/2019
- Category: Commentaries
In 2016, there were 76 million Indonesians with a Facebook account, the fourth highest in the world. Jakarta has been named the world’s ‘most active city on Twitter,’ while other platforms such as Instagram, Whatsapp, LINE, Path, and Telegram are all being used in unique and dynamic ways in a country with a very high demand for online communication.[1] On the other hand, this rapid advancement of internet communication in dominating the urban areas of the archipelago is only part of the story. While the number of Indonesians using the internet has followed an upward global trend, increasing sevenfold from 8.1 million in 2005 to 56.6 million in 2015, Indonesia’s internet penetration remains only around 25 percent, with around four-fifths of the country’s internet users located on the islands of Java and Sumatra.[2]
One is social or physical position in the geopolitical landscape of Indonesia, with the highly uneven spread and quality of digital infrastructure, to a large extent decides whether, how fast, how long, with whom, and on what other terms and conditions one can have digital connectivity.[3] For communities in disadvantaged regions, the infrastructure and media for digital communication and information are underdeveloped or unavailable. This situation is being improved, but behind the glossy sell of social-media driven campaigns, tech start-ups, and e-commerce growth, the development of ‘disruptive’ digital technologies presents significant challenges.
As IT is not a compulsory subject at school, digital literacy depends mainly on the educational services and campaigns of non-government organizations, commercial media providers and independent electronic forum sites. Especially in rural areas, the lack of internet affordability, skills, awareness, and cultural acceptance, as well as the lack of content and services in local languages, constitute considerable hurdles to digital knowledge.
Indonesia is a plural country that has layers of socio-economic groups and geographical location which create a greater divide on the digital sphere. Therefore, it needs to be excoriated to reach digital equity that ensures all individuals and communities Indonesia have access to information technology that is required for full participation in our society, democracy, and economy which will support by digital inclusion programs and activities. The digital divide is not only a matter of level of access to technology and material infrastructure, but also a broader range of factors that shape people’s opportunities for adopting digital media, such as gender, education, socio-economic status, age, and even geographical location. Adoption goes beyond technology access per se, as it depends on people’s awareness of the potential benefits of using media such as the internet. In that sense, internet skills go beyond practical computer skills and require specific forms of digital knowledge.
Based on another research in Indonesia, at large, Students have a deeper understanding than the teachers in terms of digital literacy and digital utilizing.[4] There is founding on this survey that stated the new generations are better on understanding digital literacy. This statement aligns with the statement that newborn in the digital age is assumed to be “digital natives” who can understand any technology through simple immersion.[5][6][7][8]
The Findings has shown that the new generation is the one who can explore digital inclusion even further. Millennials who can access the ICT means are the one who could take action on planning the strategy on digital inclusion as long they include Bradbrook and Fisher’s “5 Cs” of digital inclusion: connectivity (the availability and reliability of Internet access), capability (digital capability at the individual and collective level), content (the substance and language), confidence (self-efficacy), and continuity in their everyday life.[9]
The youth movement on digital inclusion with several digital communities and DISKOMINFO (Ministry of Communications and Informatics) could create massive digital inclusion programs that could distribute digital equity in every corner in Indonesia which could be done by these programs that adopted Yu Cheung Wong’s idea on tackling digital divide in East Asia:[10]
- Hardware and software support in addition to accessibility
Given the significant drop in the cost of computing technology, more families can afford to install the equipment and have an internet connection at home.
- Design, more relevant content and applications
The disadvantaged might need different designs, content, and applications that suit their needs and skills.
- Training and Organising
Training programmes are relevant. However, they are still in short supply regarding fitting the schedules of disadvantaged people. Social workers can help organize and mobilize leaders and users among the disadvantaged at the community level.
- Monitoring results through programme evaluation and digital divide measurement
Regular monitoring of the state of digital inclusiveness in society is essential so that observations can be made to determine whether progress has been made in the major areas and among targeted disadvantaged groups.
- Leveraging the input from commercial enterprises
Either in cash or kind, vendors, especially those in the ICT sector, have been making donations to help bridge the gap.
By applying these five projects in Indonesia, it is believed that the relatability of technology could help to decrease the digital divide in Indonesia. However, better mobilization and coordination are needed to reach parts of Indonesia.
Editor: Anisa Pratita Mantovani
Read another article written by Anaq Duanaiko
[1] Tapsell, Ross and Edwin Jurriens. (2017). Bridging the digital divide in Indonesia. [online] East Asia Forum. Available at: < http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2017/08/15/bridging-the-digital-divide-in-indonesia/> [Accessed 4 March 2019]
[2] ibid
[3] ibid
[4] Permadi, Dedy. (2017). Menyongsong Kewirausahaan Digital Indonesia. Yogyakarta: Universitas Gadjah Mada Press.
[5] Bennett, Susan, Karl Maton, and Lisa Kervin. (2009). The ‘Digital Natives’ Debate: A Critical Review of the Evidence. British Journal of Educational Technology 39(5):775-86.
[6] Oblinger, Diana G., and James L. Oblinger. (2005). Is it Age or IT: First Steps Toward Understanding the Net Generation. Pp. 2.1–2.20 in Educating the Net Generation, edited by D. Oblinger and J. Oblinger. Boulder, CO: EDUCAUSE.
[7] Palfrey, John and Urs Gasser. (2008). Born Digital: Understanding the First Generation of Digital Natives. New York: Basic Books.
[8] Prensky, Marc. (2001). Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants. On the Horizon 9(5):1-6.
[9]Bradbrook, G. and J. Fisher. (2004). Digital equality: Reviewing digital inclusion activity and mapping the way forward. [online] CitizensOnline. Available at: http://www.citizensonline.org.uk/ digital-quality/ [Accessed 5 March 2019]
[10] Wong, Yu Cheung. (2009). Tackling the Digital Divide. The British Journal of Social Work, Vol. 39, No. 4 (2009), pp. 754-767. [online] JSTOR. Available at: http://www.jstor.org/stable/23724328 . [Accessed 4 March 2019]
