Joining the Fight Against Hoaxes and Disinformation, Youth Organizations in Jenu Reaffirm Their Commitment to Responsible Social Media Use

Tuban, July 24, 2026 – The rapid advancement of digital technology and the ease of accessing information have significantly transformed the way people interact with information. Whether consciously or unconsciously, consuming information—particularly through social media—has become an integral part of daily life and increasingly shapes public perceptions and behavior.

However, the unprecedented flow of information is a double-edged sword. While it provides broader access to knowledge and information, it also presents considerable challenges. One growing concern is the impact of excessive social media consumption on mental health. More importantly, over the past decade, the widespread use of social media has contributed to the rapid dissemination of unethical online content, including hoaxes, explicit content such as pornography and violence, as well as disinformation.

In 2018, Indonesia's Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (formerly the Ministry of Communication and Informatics) reported that 92.40% of identified negative online content in Indonesia consisted of hoaxes, disinformation, and hate speech. More recently, Microsoft News Center published its Digital Civility Index, in which Indonesia ranked 29th out of 32 countries evaluated. These findings highlight the need for greater attention and collective action from all stakeholders to address the proliferation of harmful digital content.

In response to these challenges, PT Pertamina Patra Niaga's Grass Root Refinery (GRR) Tuban Early Work (EW) Project, in collaboration with PT Pertamina Rosneft Pengolahan dan Petrokimia (PRPP), initiated the "Karang Taruna Learning Class", an educational program designed to promote responsible social media and internet use among young people in villages surrounding the GRR Tuban Project.

Fatkhul Niam (32), a youth leader from Beji Village, expressed his appreciation for the program, which was held in Beji Village on Wednesday, July 23, 2026.

"This program is highly beneficial because members of Karang Taruna need additional knowledge to strengthen our organization, including proper administrative management and responsible social media practices. We hope this initiative will continue and inspire young people to share positive stories, good news, and constructive information about Beji Village through creative digital content," said Niam.

Similar appreciation was expressed by Wildan (25), a committee member of Karang Taruna Satya Muda Karya of Mentoso Village. He also hoped that similar initiatives would be conducted regularly and cover a wider range of educational topics that could further benefit the younger generation in the village.

Separately, Acting Senior Project Manager of the EW GRR Tuban Project, Febrian Dwi Prastyo, emphasized the important role of young people, who are generally more digitally literate, in becoming the frontline against the spread of harmful information within their communities.

"The massive flow of information today requires society to exercise greater digital maturity. As youth organizations whose members are highly familiar with technology and information, Karang Taruna should take proactive steps to help reduce the spread of harmful and misleading information within the community," said Febrian.

He further expressed his hope that the program would encourage young people, particularly those living in villages surrounding the GRR Tuban Project, to become advocates of responsible information sharing amid the growing prevalence of disinformation and negative online content.

The 2026 Karang Taruna Learning Class brought together 160 youth leaders and members from villages surrounding the GRR Tuban Project. In addition to Beji and Mentoso Villages, the program was also conducted in Wadung, Sumurgeneng, Rawasan, and Kaliuntu between June and July 2026.

Besides learning about responsible and ethical social media practices, participants also received practical training on effective social media content creation, as well as introductory knowledge on document and records management.

The program also reflects the commitment of the EW GRR Tuban Project and PRPP to supporting the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16 – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, by fostering digital literacy, encouraging responsible information sharing, and empowering youth to become positive agents of change within their communities.