Minister urges young people to critically confront social media algorithms
Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs Meutya Hafid has reminded the younger generation to boost their digital awareness so they do not fall into the trap of the algorithm ‘illusion’ on social media. She said that if the algorithm illusion goes unrecognised, it has the potential to manipulate perceptions of social reality and democracy in the digital space.
‘The masses can appear to show everyone is angry, or everyone is calm, or everything viral must be true. In fact, it may only show a fragment of reality magnified by the algorithm,’ Meutya Hafid stated in a release received in Jakarta on Thursday.
This message was also conveyed by Meutya online during the launch of a book by Andi Ilham Paulangi titled ‘Digital Democracy: Virality, Algorithms, and the Voice of Gen Z’ held at IPB University in Bogor, West Java, on Wednesday (17/6).
Meutya said that in practice, freedom of expression does not only occur in physical spaces but grows and thrives in digital spaces through social media timelines, comment sections, and various online interaction platforms that have become part of people’s daily lives. However, what is happening now is that due to personalisation algorithms, digital spaces often present perceptions that do not always reflect actual conditions.
She assessed that personalisation algorithms can magnify certain fragments of reality, creating a misleading impression of public opinion. Therefore, Meutya urged the public to be wiser in responding to various information circulating on social media and to cultivate digital awareness. For her, digital awareness is key so that society is not easily provoked by extreme opinions or public anger that appears dominant in the digital space but does not necessarily reflect true social facts.
This message was deliberately aimed at the younger generation because young people, especially Generation Z, currently hold a strategic position in determining the future direction of Indonesia’s democracy. The ability of the younger generation to understand how algorithms work and to critically filter information will be an important asset for maintaining the quality of the digital public sphere.
The Minister also invited all stakeholders to jointly safeguard Indonesia’s digital space so that it remains healthy, safe, productive, and supportive of strengthening democracy.
IPB University Vice Rector I Deni Noviana added to the discussion on social media algorithms. He said this technological sophistication greatly influences how society interacts and communicates in consuming information on social media. The challenges that arise are not only related to understanding technology but also concern the diversity of perspectives in the digital space.
He explained that algorithms are generally designed for commercial purposes, so they tend to reinforce similar views and risk sidelining differing voices. ‘Algorithms are indeed designed for commercial purposes and only listen to one side, and can be hostile to different voices,’ Deni said.
He added that social media has now evolved far beyond its original function as a means of communication. It has transformed into a cultural space as well as an arena for identity formation, especially for the younger generation. In this context, the phenomenon of virality becomes a new challenge that must be faced with adequate critical thinking skills and digital literacy.
The event, held at the Andi Hakim Nasution Auditorium of IPB University, was guided by Nagara Institute Executive Director Akbar Faizal. The activity, which is part of efforts to support the national education programme, was also backed by the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs and organised in cooperation with IPB University and the IPB University Student Executive Board for the 2025/2026 period.