Strengthening Digital Literacy and Tolerance, UIN Jakarta Lecturers Conduct Community Outreach in Papua and West Papua

Sorong, Berita UIN Online– Strengthening digital literacy and religious moderation is at the heart of a community outreach programme conducted by lecturers from the Islamic Communication and Broadcasting (KPI) Study Programme, Faculty of Da’wah and Communication Sciences (FDIKOM), UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, in disadvantaged, frontier and outermost (3T) areas of Southwest Papua and West Papua. The programme, which began on Tuesday (27 October 2026), serves communities in Sorong Regency, Raja Ampat Regency and Manokwari Regency.

Under the theme “Religious Moderation: Building a Culture of Healthy and Safe Digital Media Literacy in 3T Areas”, the programme aims to encourage communities to assess information more critically, use digital media responsibly and maintain social harmony amid diversity.

The Community Service (PkM) team is led by Vahruddin Jayadi, M.A., alongside Dr Canra Krisna Jaya. The initiative reflects the university’s contribution to strengthening digital skills while promoting the values of religious moderation in everyday life.

As information and communication technologies become increasingly widespread, the ability to access digital media must be accompanied by the skills needed to assess and verify information. Without a critical approach, communities risk exposure to hoaxes, misleading information and content that may trigger misunderstandings and social conflict.

The programme therefore goes beyond teaching people how to use technology. It also seeks to raise awareness of responsible communication in digital spaces. Communities are encouraged to verify information before sharing it, recognise misleading content and use social media safely and responsibly.
Digital Literacy and Religious Moderation Go Hand in Hand
According to the programme's press release, strengthening digital literacy goes hand in hand with promoting the values of religious moderation. Digital literacy enables communities to engage critically with the flow of information, while religious moderation fosters mutual respect, tolerance and appreciation of differences.

Both aspects are essential to creating a healthy communication environment, particularly in communities with diverse religious, cultural and social backgrounds. Digital spaces should not become channels for spreading prejudice and hostility; instead, they should encourage dialogue, broaden understanding and strengthen relationships between different groups in society.

Through its outreach activities in Sorong Regency, Raja Ampat Regency and Manokwari Regency, the UIN Jakarta KPI lecturer team seeks to provide knowledge relevant to local community needs. The programme also extends the role of higher education institutions in addressing the challenges of digital transformation through education, mentoring and community empowerment.

The programme's implementation in 3T areas of Southwest Papua and West Papua is also part of a broader effort to bring higher education institutions closer to local communities. The lecturers' engagement is expected to create opportunities for collaboration in developing an inclusive and safe information ecosystem that supports social harmony.

Through this initiative, the KPI Study Programme at FDIKOM, UIN Jakarta, reaffirms that university community engagement must go beyond disseminating knowledge to addressing the practical needs of society. Strengthening digital literacy and religious moderation is expected to equip communities to navigate technological developments while preserving harmony and upholding humanity amid diversity. (FDIKOM Press Release/Zm)