The existence of the Internet of Things (IoT) as a part of Industrial Revolution 4.0 brings both advantages and disadvantages. One of the shortages is fast dissemination of hoaxes, fake messages, and fake news on cyberspace. Thus, it is necessary that people should be wiser to interact on the cyberspace and regulations should be established.

In a National Seminar of Communication 2018 ‘Digital Revolution and Multicultural Community (Gaps, Challenges, Opportunities) conducted by Department of Communication Science of Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta (UMY) on Monday (27/8) at Building of K.H. Ibrahim of UMY, a senior staff of Ministry of Communication and Information for Communication and Mass Media Prof. Dr. Henri Subiakto stated that Indonesia is a huge country, but in social life segregation often occurs. Indeed, it ensues on cyberspace (social media).

“The emerging of internet has shifted many aspects and can bear multicultural issues since we may meet different people. We meet, even fight, on social media. What we need obviously is unity, not discord,” emphasized Prof. Henri.

Therefore, Prof Henri advised all people to be aware of the spread of hoaxes on social media. To cope with the issue, people should be sagacious and neutral in verifying information on social media. “When receiving hoaxes, people tend to check the information from similar perspective. They should not do that because cyberspace possess their own algorithm knowing our characteristics. If we try to confirm the information on the same platform, it will convince us of the information. Hence, literacy of cyberspace algorithm is essential,” he presented.

Besides, Prof. Henri recommend that regulations of cyberspace interaction should be upheld. “Nowadays, we run a business, find friends, and fight on cyberspace so that the regulations must exist,” he asserted.

Meanwhile, Head of Department of Communication Science of UMY as well as chief of the seminar committee Muria Endah Sokowati, S.IP., M.Si. conveyed that social media ease, but endanger, us. “Freedom of speech on cyberspace turns into freedom of hating so that I agree that regulations should be established. The Algorithm leading to segregations on cyberspace yields information verification from a view or platform only. Confronting the circumstance, a challenge for us as people focusing on communication science is doing literacy. Thus, I expect that this seminar can enhance people’s awareness of facing this industrial revolution,” she conveyed.