Diskominfotik Holds Digital Literacy Seminar against SARA Hoaxes

The Jakarta Communication, Informatics and Statistics Agency (Kominfotik), held digital literacy at Bethel Indonesia Church (GBI) Petamburan, Jalan Petamburan IV, RT 01/04 Petamburan Urban Village, Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta, Tuesday (4/30). It took the form of a seminar with the theme Fighting SARA Hoaxes, attended by 100 participants.

Hope it can also encourage participants to become digitally empowered individuals

Jakarta Inter-Church Assembly Forum Chairman, Benyamin Obadaya said it was very useful because hoaxes that touched on issues of ethnicity, religion and race were still latent issues that could trigger national divisions.

Not only weakens harmony and tolerance, he said SARA hoaxes also had the potential to trigger violence between groups. Surely, it will also have an impact on the economy.

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"We appreciate the Jakarta Government's efforts to fight SARA hoaxes by involving the church," he expressed.

He asserted the need to maintain conduciveness is closely related to Jakarta's readiness to become a global city. If Jakarta was not conducive due to SARA issues, investors and tourists would be reluctant to attend.

"Joint efforts against hoaxes like this must be continuously pursued. Thus, the integrity and unity of the nation is maintained and becomes an example for other regions," he asserted.

The speaker at the activity, Anita Wahid, explained that the recent trend of Hoaxes is centered on the Presidential Election and in the future it is predicted that it will be related to the Regional Head Election.

Then the current development of the digital world has had an impact on hoax trends from previously focusing on identity issues, to hoax concepts of image building and chasing click bait.

According to him, developments in current issues must be seen clearly and differentiated between hoaxes and opinions. Regarding opinions, she explained that the audience would be invited to support or not support, not about right or wrong.

He emphasized the latent dangers of hoaxes on SARA issues which still have the potential to damage the national order. Therefore, he hopes that people could still choose information and react to it wisely.

He emphasized the latent dangers of hoaxes on SARA issues which still have the potential to damage the national order. Therefore, he hoped that people could still choose information and react to it wisely.

"In order to choose, we also have to be open to interacting so we don't just see it from one point of view. When we don't want to interact we can get trapped and feel right," he asserted.

Jakarta Diskominfotik's Public Information Service Sub-group Head, Harry Sanjaya explained today's activity aimed to improve the digital literacy skills of Jakarta residents and use internet media to create positive, creative and innovative content.

Regarding the choice of theme, it was an effort by the Jakarta Government to invite residents to fight SARA hoaxes which have the potential to divide unity.

Hopefully, it could also facilitate synergy with residents using digital technology positively and productively

"Hope it can also encourage participants to become digitally empowered individuals. Because, a digitally empowered society is a benchmark for a country's readiness to face current developments," he added.

As for the information, besides face-to-face, activities are also held online via the Jakarta Provincial Government YouTube Channel and zoom meetings.