Digital Literacy Culture in the Development of Student Character

Abstract: Digital literacy culture plays a crucial role in shaping student character by enhancing their ability to adapt to, recognize, and comprehend information in the rapidly evolving digital era. Digital literacy goes beyond reading and writing skills; it involves identifying, understanding, and applying information from increasingly diverse and complex digital platforms. According to UNESCO (2017), digital literacy culture helps students adapt to emerging technologies, there by strengthening character education by instilling values such as honesty, responsibility, discipline, and creativity essential for daily life and learning. Nugroho (2025) asserts that digital literacy is an effective pathway to reinforce student character in the face of challenges within the advanced Society 5.0 era, integrating technology with in social life. This study utilizes a case study method focusing on the implementation and observation of digital literacy culture in schools. Findings reveal that the application of digital literacy enhances students' of 4C skills (critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity), despite the still relatively low reading interest among students. Learning models such as service learning, project-based learning, problem-based learning, and the LOK-R model are integral to the structured implementation of digital literacy and character development. Nevertheless, challenges remain, including technological limitations, disparities in access, and gaps in teacher and student understanding. Support from educators, schools, families, and communities is fundamental for successful character development through digital literacy culture, enabling students to confidently and competently face future technological advancements.