The hall of Darun Najah Al ‘Irfany Islamic Boarding School in Patrang, Jember, buzzed with an unusual kind of discussion on Tuesday, June 17. Instead of their usual religious studies, the female students (santriwati) were delving into the world of social media, a digital realm they typically only access during school holidays.
Through a program titled “Social Media Expert for Teenagers,” a team of lecturers from the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences at the University of Jember provided digital literacy training to approximately 150 high school-level female students at the boarding school. This initiative is part of a community service program spearheaded by Sukron Makmun, S.Sos., M.Si, along with Nurcahyaning Dwi Kusumaningrum, Sari Dewi Poerwanti, and Nurina Adi Paramitha.
“The rules at the pesantren prohibit students from bringing cell phones, but when they are at home, they often get busy with their respective social media. Therefore, they must be taught and equipped with what they can and cannot do when using social media,” explained Sari Dewi Poerwanti after delivering her material.
According to Sari, without proper knowledge of social media, students are at risk of encountering problems. Reckless social media use can harm themselves and others.
“Access to social media remains wide open during pondok holidays. That’s when potential dangers emerge. For example, oversharing, unfiltered dissemination of personal content, and using social media without an understanding of ethics,” Sari added.
Gus Irfan Muktasimbillah, the head of Darun Najah Al ‘Irfany Islamic Boarding School, expressed his appreciation for this educational step. He views this community service activity as a form of protecting moral character and a preventative effort in the digital age.
“We are grateful for activities like this. After this event, we hope the female students will be more careful and not just follow trends on social media. Because there is a moral responsibility in every post,” said Gus Irfan.
During the activity, the students participated in several simulations. They were encouraged to analyze social media posts, identifying which ones violated privacy, which were manipulative, and which could be used to spread positive messages.