Minister of Communication and Digital (Menkomdigi) Meutya Hafid said digital literacy and culture need to be implemented in tandem to build character and instill a love for the homeland among the younger generation.
According to him, digital literacy creates a good understanding of digitalization in children, and cultural literacy utilizes historical sites as communal spaces can foster national values and can be applied by children when interacting both in the real world and in cyberspace.
"This way, children are not only protected digitally, but also provided with a learning environment that instills a love for their homeland, respects local wisdom, and builds national character," Meutya said in a statement received in Jakarta on Sunday.
Meutya stated that strengthening cultural awareness among the younger generation aligns with the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs' (Kominfo) mandate, which not only regulates cyberspace governance but also ensures that communication and information spaces serve as a medium for disseminating the nation's cultural values.
Therefore, it is important for the younger generation to be able to get close to and receive proper education about the roots of the nation's culture, whose values can serve as guidelines for everyday social life.
"The digital space must not dominate children's entire lives. They must still be in contact with real culture and experiences," he said.
