Radicalism in the Digital Era: The Role of Digital Literacy in Preventing Propaganda in Indonesia

Abstract

Radicalism has become a serious threat in Indonesia, especially through the spreading of extreme ideologies through social media and online platforms. This threat is increasingly pervasive with the rise of radical propaganda, which can be easily accessed by the public, especially through Twitter. Therefore, this research has the main objective, namely identifying the urgency of the threat of radicalism propaganda in cyberspace and analyzing the important role of digital literacy as an effective prevention tool. The thematic analysis method is used to examine radical content spread on Twitter, using the Nvivo 12 Plus tool to support the data analysis process. The findings of this research highlight the importance of increasing digital literacy in society as a strategic step in facing the growing threat of radicalism. Digital literacy has an important role in equipping individuals with the ability to identify, analyze, and counter harmful content and actively participate in reporting such threats to the authorities. In this case, the government’s active support in holding digital literacy education programs and awareness campaigns is crucial. We can create a safer and smarter digital environment with close cooperation between all parties. Keywords: radicalism, digital literacy, propaganda, social media