ANTARA Bali Bureau Strengthens Elderly Capacity to Counter Hoaxes

The ANTARA News Agency’s Bali bureau is strengthening the capacity of elderly citizens to counter hoaxes through literacy, as they are a group vulnerable to information disorders. “We hope the elderly become more empowered, independent, and less susceptible to viral information whose truth has not been verified,” said Head of the ANTARA Bali Bureau, Ardi Irawan, in Denpasar, Bali, on Saturday. According to him, targeting the elderly is intended to make the literacy programme more inclusive and sustainable, in addition to targeting students and university pupils. The overwhelming flow of information in the digital space currently requires optimised literacy to prevent exposure to misleading information that can lead to societal polarisation. The media literacy programme was delivered by ANTARA Bali Bureau journalist Dewa Ketut Sudiarta Wiguna to 55 elderly citizens who are currently attending informal education at the Wredha Harum Mahottama Elderly School at the Tegal Harum Village Office in Monang Maning, Denpasar. This education also realised a literacy programme to counter hoaxes for the elderly after the resource person received a 2026 Australia Awards short course scholarship at the University of Queensland on the challenges of misinformation and disinformation, fostering information integrity and media literacy in the digital era. The material presented included an understanding of the outlines of hoaxes or false information, covering information disorders such as misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation, as well as tips to prevent hoax exposure by enriching references and simple utilisation of artificial intelligence technology. “We want to rebuild the critical thinking of the elderly so they are not easily exposed to misleading and harmful hoaxes,” he added. The literacy activity was held through discussions and involved the active participation of participants, who were mostly elderly people aged between 60 and 75 years. The literacy session was also conducted in an enjoyable manner, featuring visual examples including photos and videos, interspersed with quizzes, body stretching, and concluded with a group singing activity. Meanwhile, Tegal Harum Village Secretary Ida Ayu Putu Cahya Sugiantari, representing the local village head, appreciated the contribution of the ANTARA Bali Bureau in supporting healthy, active, productive, and more spirited elderly citizens. “This literacy adds to the resilience of the elderly and promotes a better quality of life for them,” she said. On the other hand, a number of elderly participants also welcomed the education, which increased their understanding and ability to prevent hoax exposure, and even shared the literacy back with their families and closest communities. “This activity helps us respond to hoaxes, which have now become a scourge. We can pass this on to our children and grandchildren so that information is not swallowed raw,” said one elderly participant, Widowati Sugandi. Another elderly participant, 74-year-old Pramono, also welcomed the initiative as it could increase their capacity to counter hoaxes and make them more productive. “This adds to our knowledge in filling our old age,” he said.