Public to Use Smartphones Wisely: MCIT

Garut, InfoPublik – The technology on smartphones makes people live their lives easier. However, if not used wisely, technology has negative influence in our lives, in a way that makes people become dependent on it, hampering them from being welfare. Therefore, we should use it wisely and in a right way.

The Indonesian Ministry of Communication and Information Technology’s (MCIT) Communication and Mass Media expert staff Gun Gun Siswadi made this statement in Garut, West Java, on Sunday (14/10).

He stated that with the advanced technology in smartphones, people can fulfil various needs easily. Shopping and ordering food is only one tap away using their smartphones.

"Nowadays, a smartphone has supermarkets, schools, cinemas, entertainments, textbooks, magazines, newspapers, etc.," he said.

However, he continued, we expect public to choose, select and verify every information they received from the social media. "People need to be aware of the social media content which contains hate speeches, hoaxes, slanders, incitements, and provocations. Those kinds of content have the potential to disintegrate and bring conflict with each other. That is why we need to fight the hoax together," he said.

He also invited the public to produce positive information content to counter false news. It was conveyed in Literacy and Education activities conducted by the MCIT’s Directorate General of Information and Public Communication (IKP) to enlighten the community and strengthen national values within the framework of the unitary state of the Republic of Indonesia.

In dealing with hoaxes in the social media, the public needs to sort the information. If it is positive, it can be forwarded to the public, otherwise information that bring conflict to the community, should not be shared.

"Incorrect information has the potential to damage the spirit of diversity. Millennial generations must be able to sort out positive and negative information. When finding hoax, counter it with positive information, that is, enlightening, educating information which must be shared," he added. (Reporter: Wandi, Translator: Wilda Stiana)