Thursday, March 28, 2024 | 19:19 WIB

Netizens should suppress radicalism in social media

READ MORE

IO, Jakarta – Social media is often used to spread radical content and religious transnationalism which threatens the unity and integrity of the nation. Therefore, commitment and continuous efforts by netizens are needed to revert the strategic position of social media as a transformative agent with literacy and educational content as well as enlightening the masses.

Social media is known to have a very important role in championing radicalism or foreign ideologies in Indonesia. That is so because it has become part of everyday life for children, adolescents, and adults. Member of Parliament from PKB Abdul Karding Kadir said that ideas from the outside world reached Indonesia due to the role of social media. According to him, people become radical because they get a different understanding, especially in religion, by perceiving themselves to be the most perfect believers. “Radicals could learn to make terror bombs from social media without face to face meetings with the experts; hence, social media can also be disastrous for the nation,” he explained.

LIPI political analyst Indria Samego said that with the necessary gadget the public can seek information which may incline to be negative. According to him, Indonesia after the Reformation is very free compared to its neighbors. Freedom is sometimes used abusively, especially in social media. “Technological revolution after the New Order Era transformed Indonesia into a free country, unlike its neighboring countries,” he said.

Meanwhile, founder of the Independent Social Media Activists Forum (FPMSI) Hafyz Marshal said that in order to counter various negative contents of hoaxes and radicalism and to mutually create a sense of national unity through national reconciliation, his Forum sought to help build a literacy culture among netizens in order to foster optimism by spreading positive narrative content for the progress of the nation.

The discussion which was attended by netizens, campus press activists, and journalists also released a statement of the Social Media Activists as follows: First, we are ready to maintain the integrity of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia based on the Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution, and to uphold the diversity of the Indonesian Nation for the sake of national unity.  Second, we are ready to fight hoaxes, hatred, and the spread of radicalism on social media by producing positive content that fosters optimism and the spirit of national reconciliation for the progress of the nation. Third, we are ready to work together to maintain a good atmosphere in the public media and support the development efforts and national leadership for the coming five years towards advanced and prosperous Indonesia. (dan)

POPULAR

Latest article

Related Articles

INFRAME

SOCIAL CULTURE