By: Tiara Putri )*
Radical ideas are widely spread through social media, causing millennials and Gen Z generations to be potentially exposed to these dangerous ideas. All parties are asked to synergize and participate in counteracting this dangerous understanding.
Director of Prevention of the National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT), Brigadier General Pol R Akhmad Nurwakhid, said there were as many as 12.2 percent of Indonesians who were potentially exposed to radicalism. Of this number, the majority are millennials and generation Z. Nurwakhid also explained the indicators that caused millennials and generation Z to be potentially exposed to radicalism.
Nurwakhid said the first indicator is that the millennial generation and Gen Z are thought to be anti-Pancasila, pro-khilafah or pro-transnational ideology. Second, according to Nurwakhid, this generation already has an intolerant paradigm of diversity and difference.
They have an exclusive attitude towards change or with their environment, they have the most religious truth claims. Furthermore, millennials and Gen Z are considered to be legitimate anti-government. He said, anti in this case is not critical and not opposition.
He said that being critical is an obligation, if we see something that is not good, we are critical, opposition in the democratic era is allowed, anti here is an attitude of hatred by building distrust or public distrust of the state or legitimate leaders or government by spreading hoaxes, hate speech, content – content of slander and so on.
According to him, these two generations are suspected of being anti-cultural and local religious wisdom. For example, such as the case of a man kicking and throwing offerings in a village affected by the eruption of Mount Semeru. This seems to have shown an attitude of intolerance that is included in the index of potential for radicalism.
He also considered that the millennial generation and Gen Z, who have the potential to be radical, need to be vigilant together. The younger generation must be returned as ideological vaccinations so that they are not exposed to radicalism and terrorism. To anticipate this, he explained that BNPT has built peace ambassadors in cyberspace that have spread across 13 provinces in Indonesia.
The plan this year is that BNPT will develop at least 25 provinces, consisting of millennial youth, generation Z children, but those who are militant in cyberspace and they always promote content of unity, peace, tolerance, love of the homeland, love of Pancasila. and national harmony and so on. And they are also intense in their efforts to fight hate speech, hoaxes, hate speech and so on.
Meanwhile, Director of Polhukan, Directorate General of Information and Public Communication of Kominfo, Bambang Gunawan, said the onslaught of negative information about radicalism could damage the foundations of the nation. According to him, the flood of information including negative content about radicalism, terrorism and extremism can threaten the integrity of the Unitary Republic of Indonesia.
Kominfo also encourages the millennial generation to carry out various activities to fight ideas that are contrary to Pancasila. Lathifa Al Anshori as the main expert at Kominfo explained that there are several ways for millennials and Gen Z to fight radicalism.
Lathifa said, say no to hoaxes, equip yourself with lots of references, become creative and innovative young people in their work, actively spread messages of peace, open your mind, strengthen media literacy, avoid intolerant groups by gathering with successful people and implement the meaning of Pancasila in everyday life.
Of course, there needs to be a critical attitude and vigilance from parents when they see children exposed to the doctrine of radicalism. Meanwhile, Criminologist from the University of Indonesia (UI) Dr. Mohammad Kemal Dermawan, Msi advised the public to be more selective in choosing available information and avoid news that contains provocations that can certainly harm this nation.
The government itself can actually make various efforts to prevent the spread of provocative information in the community, especially through the digital world, one way is by activating ‘cyber patrols’. Because technologically, the government through law enforcement officers can carry out ‘cyber patrols’ to secure inflammatory news content such as hoaxes and provocations.
Cyber Patrol, of course, cannot stem all provocations about radicalism, so millennials and gen Z need to have shields for themselves when accessing social media so they are not easily provoked by ideas that are not in line with Pancasila.
)* The author is a contributor to Pertiwi Institute
