Fadli: Digital Space Is a Cultural Space for Expression
Jakarta (ANTARA) — Culture Minister Fadli Zon, who is also chair of the Indonesian National Commission for UNESCO (KNIU), said digital space is a cultural space where values, identity and expression are passed on to future generations.
“Digital space is a cultural space where values, identity and expression are continually shaped and passed on. Our strong cultural foundations—including mutual cooperation, deliberation, consideration for others, and respect for diversity, parents, teachers and fellow members of society—must serve as the basis for digital ethics, so that technological progress strengthens our character and humanity,” Fadli said in a statement received in Jakarta on Friday.
He added that KNIU seeks to bridge UNESCO’s agenda with national development priorities and strengthen cross-sector collaboration. Education and culture should go hand in hand: education provides knowledge and skills, while culture gives values and ethics to guide their use.
The family, he said, is the first environment in which children learn values and responsibility. Parents need to be present as guides, foster open communication and help children understand both the benefits and risks of digital spaces.
A policy restricting social media use by children under 16 without close parental supervision has been implemented. It is intended to prevent the development of undesirable character traits or values amid the extraordinary breadth of the digital world, which may contain material prohibited by law.
Fadli also called for technological progress to be accompanied by wisdom. Media and information literacy, as part of the nation’s culture, means thinking critically before believing information, checking its accuracy before sharing it and consistently respecting differences in every digital interaction.
He said the book he launched, Growing Up in a Connected World: A Family Guide to the Digital Age, is intended for broad use by families, educators, schools and communities across Indonesia.
The book is also expected to strengthen media and information literacy and help foster knowledgeable, culturally grounded and civilised Indonesians as the country moves towards Golden Indonesia 2045.
Fadli added that the book’s launch was an important step towards strengthening the role of families in guiding children and promoting media literacy amid the rapid development of digital technology.
“Media and information literacy must not be understood merely as the ability to use digital devices. It also requires critical thinking to process, filter and verify information, and to use it ethically and responsibly. This is part of our effort to build a new culture in the digital era,” he said.