Jakarta, INTI - Indonesia's Deputy Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs, Nezar Patria, believes that a digital literacy approach centered solely on teaching people how to use devices and access the internet is no longer sufficient to address the challenges of the artificial intelligence era.
He emphasized that digital competency programs must now focus on developing more contextual, productive, and future-ready skills that align with rapid technological advancements.
“Today's digital literacy programs are more about upskilling, enhancing competencies that are contextual and relevant to current technological developments,” Nezar said during a meeting with the Indonesian Association of Communication Science Lecturers and Researchers at the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs' office in Central Jakarta on Thursday, June 25, 2026.
Digital Literacy Must Evolve Beyond Basic Skills
According to Nezar, the ministry's shift in digital literacy strategy is both timely and consistent with recommendations from Indonesia's National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas), following nearly a decade of implementing nationwide digital literacy initiatives.
“We have been running digital literacy programs for almost a decade, and Bappenas has completed its evaluation of these initiatives. As a result, we will no longer continue digital literacy programs in the same way we did before,” he explained.
He noted that the period when digital literacy primarily focused on teaching people how to operate gadgets and gain basic access to the digital world has largely passed.
In addition, foundational topics such as digital safety and online ethics are now increasingly addressed by digital platforms themselves through community guidelines and other built-in policies.
“That phase has largely passed. While those skills are still important, they are now being supported and adopted by digital platforms through community guidelines and similar mechanisms,” he added.
Nezar further explained that the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs is now redirecting its digital literacy strategy toward strengthening the public's ability to identify and combat disinformation, misinformation, and online hoaxes, while equipping citizens with the critical thinking skills needed to navigate an AI-driven digital landscape.
Conclusion
Nezar Patria emphasized that Indonesia's digital literacy agenda must evolve to keep pace with the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence. Rather than focusing solely on basic digital skills, future programs will prioritize AI-relevant competencies, critical thinking, and resilience against misinformation, preparing citizens to participate more effectively in an increasingly AI-driven digital economy.
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