Strengthening Digital Literacy among Women’s Yasinan Groups through Assistance in the Wise Use of Social Media

Abstract

The widespread use of social media facilitates access to and distribution of information while simultaneously exposing communities to misinformation, digital fraud, privacy violations, and unethical communication. These challenges highlight the importance of strengthening digital literacy, particularly among women who actively participate in family and community communication networks. This community engagement program aimed to strengthen digital literacy among women in the Yasinan group of Nataan Hamlet, Gedongboyountung Village, Turi District, Lamongan Regency, through assistance in the wise use of social media. The program employed a participatory approach consisting of needs identification, education, practical assistance, evaluation, and reflection. The intervention integrated four dimensions of digital literacy: information verification, digital security, privacy protection, and digital ethics. Activities combined interactive education, case-based discussions, demonstrations, simulations, and guided practice using digital content relevant to participants’ everyday experiences. The results indicated greater participant awareness of the importance of examining information sources before sharing content, recognizing potential digital risks and fraud, protecting personal information, and considering the ethical consequences of social media activities. The engagement also demonstrated the potential of the Yasinan group as a community-based digital learning space that utilizes existing social relationships and interpersonal trust to reinforce responsible digital practices. The program highlights that community-based digital literacy can connect individual competencies with the development of a more critical, safe, ethical, and responsible digital culture.