Wednesday, November 12, 2024, the community service team from Universitas Telkom Purwokerto, class S1SD04-01, group 040108, conducted a teaching activity titled "How Data Works on Social Media." This event took place at SMA Al-Maarif NU Ajibarang, located at Jl. Raya Pandansari RT.1/RW.12, Kauman, Ajibarang Wetan, Banyumas Regency, Central Java.
Activity Introduction
The activity began with filling out a Google Form questionnaire to assess the students' initial understanding of the material to be delivered. This step aimed to identify the students' needs and guide the teaching methods effectively.
Main Material
In the main session, the community service team presented material on "Data Collection" in an engaging and interactive manner. This session aimed to educate students on how their personal data is collected, processed, and utilized by social media platforms.
The team started by introducing the basic concepts of data collection on social media, such as information gathered from user activities, including "likes," comments, search histories, and content viewing durations. This data becomes part of the system used by algorithms to determine the content displayed to users. The explanation illustrated how each social media account has a unique For You Page (FYP) because the algorithm customizes recommendations based on the data collected.
Additionally, the material highlighted both the potential benefits and risks of data collection. The team provided real-life illustrations, such as how data helps businesses define more specific marketing targets or develop features that meet users' needs. On the other hand, students were reminded that poorly protected personal data could be misused, for instance, to manipulate public opinion or even for digital crimes.
During the session, students actively participated in discussions, sharing examples from their personal experiences using social media. This approach was intended to help students easily understand the correlation between their daily activities and how data operates behind the scenes. For example, students who frequently search for sports-related videos on TikTok are likely to see more relevant content, such as sports tutorials or sports equipment products, on their homepage.
The team also introduced the concept of data privacy and the importance of protecting personal information. They explained that data such as names, email addresses, phone numbers, and location histories are valuable digital assets. If this data falls into the hands of irresponsible parties, risks such as identity theft, fraud, and information manipulation could occur. This material was presented using relevant case studies to provide students with a realistic understanding of the impact of data privacy breaches.
Beyond understanding data collection, students were encouraged to think critically about social media algorithms. The team explained how algorithms can create filter bubbles---a situation where users are exposed only to information that aligns with their preferences, limiting their perspective on certain issues. By understanding this, students are expected to be more selective in receiving and disseminating information on social media.
To conclude the session, the team emphasized the importance of digital awareness and provided practical tips to protect privacy and use social media wisely. Some recommended steps included:
- Activating privacy settings on social media accounts.
- Limiting personal information shared publicly.
- Verifying the accuracy of information before sharing it.
- Using two-factor authentication (2FA) to enhance account security.
