Digital literacy crucial as elderly face rising online scam risks

hartono · Sep 4, 2026

Digital literacy crucial as elderly face rising online scam risks

AI-generated illustration. (ChatGPT/antons)

Denpasar, Bali (ANTARA) - In the past, before information technology became as advanced as it is today, elderly people typically enjoyed their retirement by farming, gardening, exercising, deepening their spirituality, or playing with their grandchildren.

Now, elderly people also spend their time using information technology, one of which is through social media.

Through social media, they can expand cross-generational connections, hold virtual face-to-face meetings with old friends or family, share photos and videos, and even use it as a source of information.

The Communication and Digital Affairs Ministry, through its 2025 Indonesian Digital Society Index (IMDI), revealed that Indonesians are generally digitally competent on average. This is reflected in the 2025 IMDI score rising by 1.19 points to 44.53, up from 43.34 in 2024.

This picture aligns with the 2025 survey by the Indonesian Internet Service Providers Association (APJII), which showed that elderly people are among the highest groups of mobile phone users, reaching 91.13 percent.

However, the high use of smartphones by elderly people is not necessarily matched by adequate understanding or literacy levels.

It is because one of the four pillars measured in the IMDI, namely digital literacy, needs extra attention, as its score fell by 8.97 points to 49.28.

Misinformation

Information disorders are generally divided into three types, which are misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation. The concept was formulated by Claire Wardle and Hossein Derakhshan in their 2017 book, Information Disorder: Toward an Interdisciplinary Framework for Research and Policymaking.

Although all three have negative impacts, each type of information disorder has its own distinct characteristics. Misinformation is false information spread without intent to cause harm, although it remains misleading.

Unlike misinformation, disinformation is false information deliberately created and spread to harm others through manipulation or fabrication.

Malinformation, meanwhile, is fact-based information spread with malicious intent to harm certain parties, for example by exposing personal data publicly, which can trigger harassment or hate speech.

Therefore, digital literacy is crucial to keep promoting across all layers of society, including elderly people. This group is the most vulnerable to hoaxes and scams.

Digital literacy activist from the Indonesian Anti-Hoax Society (Mafindo) Heni Mulyati said elderly people are highly vulnerable to information manipulation, such as artificial intelligence (AI)-based digital scams.

This situation is understandable given the rapid pace of technological change. Psychological and social factors also play a role. Elderly people who feel lonely tend to seek interaction on social media.

Unfortunately, these "new connections" in cyberspace are often exploited by criminals to carry out romance scams or financial fraud by taking advantage of leaked personal data.

The Illegal Financial Activities Eradication Task Force (Satgas PASTI), or the Indonesia Anti-Scam Centre (IASC) under the Financial Services Authority (OJK), recorded staggering figures for online fraud. Since beginning operations on November 22, 2024, through July 31, 2026, IASC has blocked 607,210 accounts out of a total of 1,179,881 reported accounts.

In addition, IASC has successfully blocked around Rp724.1 billion in funds related to financial fraud and returned Rp204.3 billion to victims from perpetrators' accounts.

Family support

The public in Denpasar city, Bali, was shocked in late May 2026 by viral information on social media claiming a pocong ghost was haunting the Monang Maning residential area in Denpasar.

The information even prompted the Denpasar City Police to launch an investigation, as many people, including old people, believed it because the photo appeared real, causing public unease.

After investigation, the information was found to be a hoax created by a junior high school (SMP) student in Denpasar.

According to police, the photo had been manipulated using AI as a prank by the student.

Another example is Darmawati, a 63-year-old woman in West Denpasar, who nearly fell victim to a scam that pressured her to transfer money after being told she had won a prize draw from a bank.

Fortunately, she was warned by her close family, including her child, about the attempted scam, allowing the loss to be prevented.

One telltale sign of an online scam is that the perpetrator always pressures the victim, inducing panic and giving them no time to think before acting.

Therefore, there are three important steps the public, including elderly people, can take to avoid becoming online scam victims. First, hold back before acting; then verify the information through official websites or credible media; and confirm or ask family, close relatives, or official parties.

Digital ethics

The presence of artificial intelligence (AI) is like a double-edged sword, where it can be beneficial and make people's work easier today.

However, AI can also become a weapon for spreading hoaxes and digital scams if it falls into irresponsible hands.

According to journalism expert and Adjunct Associate Professor Angela Romano from Queensland University of Technology (QUT) in Brisbane, Australia, five core principles of digital ethics are essential for responding to information disorders driven by technological advancements, including AI.

The first of these digital citizenship principles centers on personal responsibility, emphasizing the need for critical thinking when evaluating and consuming incoming information.

The remaining four principles include understanding the rights of others, maintaining respect for fellow digital citizens, applying sound reasoning through media literacy, and building self-resilience against digital manipulation.

On the other hand, AI is also one of the tools for verifying information, widely provided by major technology platforms. This method can be introduced to elderly people gradually.

Even so, Romano stressed that AI is not a sole solution, as it can still contain errors.

Therefore, digital literacy and ongoing guidance are key to preventing the public, including elderly people, from being exposed to the risks of hoaxes and scams.

Digital literacy can equip elderly people to be responsive, resilient, and independent when facing the risks of hoaxes and online scams.

Various parties can contribute to promoting this literacy, from the government as policymaker, to mass media, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and academics.

Through these efforts, elderly people are expected to develop strong resilience against digital risks. In addition, family support is still important so they do not feel they are facing these challenges alone.