Forget the tigers, orangutans, and theever-present threat of volcanic eruptions. Indonesia's real endangered species in 2024? The over-40s and their tumultuous relationship with the digital world. Now, before you fire off angry emails aboutyour killer Instagram game or flawless online shopping sprees, hear me out. Sure, there are exceptions – uncles with their meticulously curated memecollections and aunties who dominate neighborhood Facebook groups. But let's be honest, digitally fluent oldies are the komodo dragons of the internet – fascinating, rare, and with a concerning lack of impulse control when it comes
to forwarding chain messages about “miracle cures”, "make your penis bigger", "delete this if you can't win jackpot after ten clicks", and “hidden wealth of the Soekarno dynasty.” But suddenly, boom! They feel bullied when their email is hijacked or their gadget crashes due to a virus.
Indonesia's digital revolution has been a whirlwind unlike anything the puppet masters of Wayang Kulit could have dreamt up. We're talking a staggering 77% internet penetration rate, with over 200 million users surfing the digital waves like a nation of virtual krakens [source: We Are Social & Hootsuite Digital 2024 Report Indonesia, for those still clinging to dusty encyclopedias]. But amidst this sea of online shoppers and social media mavericks lies a hidden demographic: the 40-plus generation.
They often look like they've stumbled into a high-speed internet cafe with nothing but a fancy phone and a dream (and maybe a slight fear of those suspicious blinking lights). Moreover, many of them are in important positions in the government that regulate national data security but still end up being compromised by ransomware viruses. Even more ridiculous, there are also many who pretend to know about the meaning of information technology but have never subscribed to the internet, or even become cyber experts only limited to writing and discourse.
Let's face it, Gen Z practically breathes Wi-Fi. They grew up with smartphones practically surgically attached to their palms. Meanwhile, Uncle Joko and Auntie Tejo's frame of reference involves dial-up connections that sounded like a herd of angry modems and the thrilling anticipation of a fax slowly sputtering to life. Now, imagine navigating a world of cryptic app icons, notifications that resemble hieroglyphics, and social media trends that change faster than the weather in Jakarta. It's enough to make even the bravest mythological warrior break into a cold sweat.
Don't get me wrong, there's a certain charm totheir digital struggles. The misplaced heart-eyed emojis in work emails, the valiant attempts to understand cryptocurrency (spoiler alert, it involves more than just Bitcoin), the sheer confusion over the difference between a "story" and a "post." It's like watching a baby elephant trying to use a trunk for the first time – adorable, but also slightly terrifying.
But the humor fades when you consider the realdangers. Indonesia has a booming online scam industry, with reports from the National Police Cyber Crime Unit showing a significant rise in financial losses due to phishing and social engineering [source: Kompas, "Polri Ungkap Kerugian Masyarakat Akibat Kejahatan Siber Capai Rp64,8 Miliar Sepanjang 2023"]. Our enthusiastic "oldies" are prime targets, their lack of digital street smarts making them easy prey for online predators.
"The internet is a fantastic tool, but for some of us, it feels like learning to ride a bicycle after a lifetime of riding a trusty komodo dragon." ~FRS
So, what's the solution? We can't exactlythrow our parents a digital detox retreat in Bali (although a social media cleanse might not be the worst idea). Instead, it's time for a multi-generational tech intervention. You, the digital natives, need to become patient digital Sherpas, guiding our technologically-challenged elders through the treacherous online terrain.
Sure, it might be a bumpy ride. There will beexasperated sighs, frustrated tears over forgotten passwords, and the constant fear of accidentally getting tagged in a questionable meme. But hey, at least they won't be sending money transfers to "Nigerian prince" or accidentally revealing their life savings to a "lost kitten" Facebook scam.
Look, Indonesia's digital revolution is hereto stay. Let's bridge the digital divide before our older generation become relics of the internet's pre-historic era – the dial-up dinosaurs of a bygone web. Remember, a society that protectsits elders, even from their own online browsing habits, is a truly advanced one. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go explain to my friends why "following" Kim Kardashian isn't the best financial strategy.
