TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Communication and Informatics Minister Rudiantara encouraged Indonesians to do a social media 'fasting' every once in a while.

Rudiantara expressed his statement during the "Be Social Media Peacemakers!" event in the Sam Ratulangi University Auditorium in Manado on Friday, April 13, 2018. Rudiantara asserted that having some time away from social media is important for people, especially the young generation.

"Come, let us fast on social media. Fasting on social media does not mean we did not use social media ever again. Every once in a while is okay," Rudiantara said.

Rudiantara added that in using social media, the public is encouraged to exercise caution in delivering personal information to prevent incidents similar to the Facebook data leak.

Indonesian is the country with the fourth largest number of Facebook user in the world. Rudiantara asserted that Bekasi and Jakarta sit on number three and number four, respectively, in the country with the most-active Facebook users in the world.

It is not surprising if the Indonesian people data was exploited. As reported earlier, as many as 87 million personal data of Facebook users were leaked in the Cambridge Analytica scandal. Out of the total number, as many as 1.1 million users were identified to be Indonesian.

“Not only suggesting but highly encouraging to you, have a [social media] fasting every once in a while, it does not bring you harm. If you have to, deliver your data carefully, don't deliver them all," Rudiantara stated.

In addition, Rudiantara also suggested the people to use social media or mobile apps made by Indonesian, such as the Pesankita Indonesia, and Catfiz Messenger.

BISNIS