ANTARA RUANG GEMA DAN RUANG HAMPA: CIVIC VIRTUE DI TENGAH KRISIS LITERASI DIGITAL

Abstract

The development of information technology and social media has provided greater access to 
information and facilitated its dissemination. However, it has also created challenges in the form 
of hoaxes, disinformation, and the formation of echo chambers in the post-truth era. These 
conditions may affect people's ability to distinguish facts from opinions, increase social 
polarization, and weaken social cohesion and the quality of democracy. This study aims to 
analyze the impact of echo chamber phenomena and the digital literacy crisis on Indonesian 
society and examine the role of civic virtue as a foundation for addressing disinformation. This 
study employed survey and interview approaches. The survey involved 102 respondents  
consisting of family members, peers, and relatives in Lampung, while an interview was 
conducted with an ASN officer from Kemenimipas to obtain deeper information regarding 
digital literacy conditions and the development of inmates. The findings indicate that some 
members of the community still experience difficulties in distinguishing facts from opinions on 
social media. TikTok was the most frequently used social media platform for obtaining 
information, accounting for 66.7% of respondents. These findings demonstrate the importance 
of strengthening digital literacy through critical thinking, information verification, and 
responsible social media use. Civic virtue can serve as an ethical foundation for developing 
citizens who are critical, rational, responsible, and respectful of plurality. Strengthening digital 
literacy and Pancasila values is necessary to build information resilience while maintaining 
social cohesion and democratic quality in the digital era.