Pilot study suggests online media literacy programming reduces belief in false news in Indonesia

Amidst the threat of digital misinformation, we offer a pilot study regarding the efficacy of an online social media literacy campaign aimed at empowering individuals in Indonesia with skills to help them identify misinformation. We found that users who engaged with our online training materials and educational videos were more likely to identify misinformation than those in our control group (total N=1,000). Given the promising results of our preliminary study, we plan to expand efforts in this area, and build upon lessons learned from this pilot study.

LIKES, SARCASM AND POLITICS: YOUTH RESPONSES TO A PLATFORM-INITIATED MEDIA LITERACY CAMPAIGN ON SOCIAL MEDIA

When it comes to youth and media literacy, the focus of both research and practice has been on the integration of media literacy instruction into young people’s various educational experiences, rather than studying, implementing and evaluating such initiatives in situ, on social media—which is known to be youths’ central news source. Furthermore, existing studies focus on older platforms like Facebook or Twitter, and we lack a nuanced understanding of these dynamics on the platforms most popular with youth today. The present study aims to fill this gap, by analyzing how users responded to a media literacy education campaign on the popular youth-oriented social media app TikTok, with a focus on the lessons that we might draw in terms of targeted media literacy education initiatives for youth. Our large-scale qualitative content analysis—which included 11,449 public comments posted on 5 educational TikTok videos about media literacy—facilitated a naturalistic study of young people’s attitudes towards such initiatives. We found that reactions to the campaign were mixed, and highly political in nature. While many users appreciated the media literacy campaign and TikTok’s role in implementing it, there was also resistance to the campaign, due to factors related to video content, dissemination approach, and the very identity of TikTok as a platform. Across the board, comments were highly political, illustrating the politicized nature of media literacy education today. These reactions serve as rich feedback that can usefully inform future media literacy campaigns on social media, and especially those targeting youth audiences.

Technology and Immigration System: A New Paradigm for Improving Government Service Delivery in Tanzania

This paper explores how digital transformation has improved the delivery of immigration services. In contrast, this refers to the fact that, despite the existence of e-immigration services, there has been inadequate research to examine the e-immigration system in Tanzania. This paper explores the e-immigration portal, its advantages, and its challenges. Using a mixed-method, data were collected from secondary and primary sources through document review, portal analysis, interviews, and questionnaires. Primary and secondary data show that e-immigration portals can be accessed using personal computers, smartphones, and internet cafes. Also, the time for applicants to receive passports and travel documents has decreased from more than seven days in the old manual system to three days on average in the new e–immigration system. Following the transforming government process, immigration service delivery has been improved by implementing the e–immigration system. Thee–immigration services offer advantages to users like online application, online payment, time-saving, and costs, but challenges like digital literacy, inaccuracy of information, feedback, and network problems impact the system's smooth operation. Here digital literacy campaign, feedback mechanism, applicant support desk, and digital service desk are recommended.

Digitalisasi Wisata Halal melalui Aplikasi Smartphone Dimasa Pendemi Covid-19

The potential of Indonesian Halal Tourism is in great demand by foreign tourists, in the current Covid-19 period, one of the most visible influences is the internet. The Internet has become a liaison for the whole world in carrying out its activities. During the Covid-19 pandemic, a platform in the form of a digital application is needed that can load all destinations, from places, lodging, food, and facilities owned by tourist attractions that are labeled halal tourism to restore tourist visits. It aims to find out how to develop Halal Tourism Applications on Smart Phones (android/OS). This writing uses library research (library research), and is qualitative, descriptive analysis. The results of the discussion show that the Potential for Transforming Digitalization to an easy and efficient smartphone, strengthening digital infrastructure in the form of services and qualified human resources, increasing synergies between stakeholders that strengthen policies that are able to encourage the acceleration of digitalization, and branding halal tourism by conducting the "Halal Lifestyle Literacy Campaign".

Students and the Sea: Ocean Literacy in Tanjungpinang, Indonesia

Low levels of 'ocean literacy' has been identified in many countries and can be a barrier for citizens to engage in environmentally responsible behavior even though improving public awareness about the ocean can benefit society and the environment. This study assessed the level of knowledge, attitude, and behavior towards the ocean of students grades 10-11 (ages 15-17) in Tanjungpinang, Indonesia, a region with strong connections with the sea. A survey was used in a public school and a private school, with a total of 200 students participating in a test about ocean knowledge and a survey about ocean attitude and behavior. Many test questions were aligned with the SOLE (The Survey of Ocean Literacy and Experience) based on 'Ocean Literacy Principles' established by the Ocean Literacy Campaign in the United States. Overall, respondents possess a moderate level of knowledge, a highly positive attitude towards the ocean environment, and a moderate level category on behavior. There are significant differences: the level of behavior in terms of class level, the level of knowledge, and attitudes in terms of subject interest. There is no significant difference in knowledge between private and public schools. There is a correlation between attitude and knowledge and also between attitude and behavior

Research note: Likes, sarcasm and politics: Youth responses to a platform-initiated media literacy campaign on social media

To better understand youth attitudes towards media literacy education on social media, and the opportunities and challenges inherent in such initiatives, we conducted a large-scale analysis of user responses to a recent media literacy campaign on TikTok. We found that reactions to the cam-paign were mixed, and highly political in nature. While young people appreciated the urgency of media literacy education and understood its relevance to their social media participation, many displayed a sarcastic attitude, criticizing both the content and the dissemination of the campaign. Based on these responses, we identify key takeaways and recommendations that can valuably in-form future media literacy campaigns on social media.

How Well the Government of Nepal Is Responding to COVID-19? An Experience From a Resource-Limited Country to Confront Unprecedented Pandemic

COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, was first reported in Wuhan, China and is now a pandemic affecting over 218 countries and territories around the world. Nepal has been severely affected by it, with an increasing number of confirmed cases and casualties in recent days, even after 8 months of the first case detected in China. As of 26 November 2020, there were over 227,600 confirmed cases of COVID in Nepal with 209,435 recovered cases and 1,412 deaths. This study aimed to compile public data available from the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP), Government of Nepal (GoN) and analyse the data of 104 deceased COVID-19 patients using IBM SPSS (Version 25.0). Additionally, this study also aimed to provide critical insights on response of the GoN to COVID-19 and way forward to confront unprecedented pandemic. Figures and maps were created using the Origin Lab (Version 2018) and QGIS (Version 3.10.8). Most of the reported cases were from Bagmati Province, the location of Nepal's capital city, Kathmandu. Among deceased cases, >69% of the patients were male and patients ≥54 years accounted for 67.9% (n = 923). Preliminary findings showed respiratory illness, diabetes, and chronic kidney diseases were the most common comorbid conditions associated with COVID-19 deaths in Nepal. Despite some efforts in the 8 months since the first case was detected, the government's response so far has been insufficient. Since the government eased the lockdown in July 2020, Nepal is facing a flood of COVID-19 cases. If no aggressive actions are taken, the epidemic is likely to result in significant morbidity and mortality in Nepal. The best way to curb the effect of the ongoing pandemic in a resource-limited country like Nepal is to increase testing, tracing, and isolation capacity, and to set up quality quarantine centers throughout the nation. A comprehensive health literacy campaign, quality care of older adults and those with comorbidity will also result in the effective management of the ongoing pandemic.