Hendra Hidayat, Zadrian Ardi, Firman, Afdal, Reza Tririzky, Alfaiz, Nur Hidayah, Umi Anugerah Izzati, Suresh Thanakodi
In an increasingly complex technological landscape, digital literacy is essential for adolescents to navigate digital risks and advancements effectively. This quantitative study investigates the impact of digital literacy and media awareness on middle school students’ understanding of digital security and technological issues in Indonesia. Using a cross-sectional survey of 902 participants, data was analyzed through Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The results indicate that digital literacy has a significant positive effect on students’ media use, digital security management, and awareness of technological developments. Furthermore, Importance-Performance Map Analysis (IPMA) reveals that digital literacy is the most influential factor among the variables studied. The findings emphasize the importance of integrating digital literacy education into school curricula to foster responsible and secure digital behavior among students. © 2026, author.
Universitas Negeri Padang, Indonesia; Universitas Ma’soem, Indonesia; Universitas Negeri Malang, Indonesia; Universitas Negeri Surabaya, Indonesia; Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia, Malaysia
