PERAN LITERASI DIGITAL DALAM MENDORONG PARTISIPASI SOSIAL GENERASI Z DI ERA TRANSFORMASI DIGITAL

Abstract

Digital transformation has fundamentally changed the ways Generation Z accesses information, communicates, develops social relationships, and participates in social life. This condition makes digital literacy an essential competence that extends beyond the ability to operate digital devices and platforms. It includes the ability to access, understand, evaluate, produce, distribute, and use information critically, ethically, and responsibly. This article aims to analyze the role of digital literacy in promoting Generation Z's social participation in the era of digital transformation. The study employs a qualitative approach using a literature review method. Data were obtained through the examination of relevant scholarly journal articles, international institutional reports, and academic publications concerning digital literacy, Generation Z, digital citizenship, social participation, and civic engagement in digital environments. The analysis involved literature identification, source selection, critical reading, thematic categorization, interpretation, and synthesis. The findings indicate that digital literacy contributes to social participation through at least five major mechanisms: improving access to information, strengthening information evaluation and verification, encouraging public expression and communication, enhancing digital collaboration, and developing ethical digital citizenship. However, intensive technology use does not automatically lead to meaningful social participation. Generation Z continues to face challenges related to misinformation, information overload, platform algorithms, polarization, apathy, unequal access, and symbolic forms of participation. Therefore, digital literacy development should move beyond operational skills toward critical, reflective, ethical, and participatory literacy. This article argues that digital literacy constitutes an important foundation for developing Generation Z as critical, responsible, collaborative, and socially engaged actors capable of contributing meaningfully to society in the era of digital transformation.