Memetakan Tingkat Literasi Digital Penyuluh Agama Mapping the Digital Literacy Level of Religious Extension Workers

Abstract

The development of internet technology and social media has had a great impact on various aspects of human life. Religious guidance or counseling is one of the fields affected by these developments. The internet and social media have become new vehicles for communication and transmission of religious messages. On the other hand, digital progress also poses various challenges, including the spread of fake news (hoaxes), misinformation, and religious disinformation. Digital advances have also been used by some parties to spread hate speech and narratives of religious extremism. The various negative uses of digital space demand an effective response from various parties, including the Ministry of Religious Affairs. Among the efforts needed to provide an effective response is the improvement of the digital competence of the Ministry of Religious Affairs apparatus, especially religious extension workers. The improvement of digital competence is needed so that religious extension workers can provide guidance and religious counseling effectively in the digital space. To provide a basis for the formulation of policies to improve digital competence, it is necessary to map the current condition of the digital competency level of religious extension workers. This article presents the results of mapping the level of competence or digital literacy of religious extension workers. The mapping is focused on answering the following questions: (1) How high is the level of digital literacy of religious extension workers? (2) What factors affect the variation in the level of digital literacy of religious extension workers? The study with a qualitative approach was carried out in 6 provinces in the work area of the Jakarta Religious Research and Development Institute, including North Sumatra, Bangka Belitung, Lampung, Banten, DKI Jakarta, and West Java, from March-April 2023. The quantitative approach is carried out through the dissemination of appointments in the form of Google Forms to religious extension workers, both civil servants and non-civil servants, in each province where the evaluation is located. The data analyzed was 7,547 responses. The mapping adopts the digital competency framework developed by the European Commission, namely The Digital Competence Framework for Citizens 2.1. The mapping results show that the digital literacy level of religious extension workers is included in the "medium" category, with the highest level of digital literacy found in West Java Province and the lowest in Bangka Belitung Province. The level of digital literacy is found in the dimension of knowledge, followed by attitudes, and skills. Higher levels of digital literacy are found among non-civil servant religious extension workers, as well as in younger age groups.