Digital Literacy: The Right Solution to Overcome the Various Problems of Meaning and Communication on Social Media

Abstract

Problems with meaning arise when symbols interact in digital communication on social media between users. Different messages may be interpreted differently due to symbolic exchanges between social media users. This paper examines how message meaning relates to current social media challenges. The data used to address the issue was obtained from an online survey of social media users, and the semiotics method was employed (denotation and connotation). This study concludes that people who utilize social media have a higher propensity to read the news and become more authentic by sharing it. To read social media text messages denotatively has ideological consequences for users and connotative implications. Social media messaging's ideological impact creates the purpose of action (change of view on an issue, for example, COVID-19 vaccination). This paper contributes to digital media literacy, which develops critical thinking abilities based on digital knowledge by choosing to read news content. Besides, this paper contributes to the capacity to critically create content based on digital culture (positive news content) and offer critical commentary based on digital ethics (politeness in providing language). This article discusses the benefits and importance of news content comments and the ability to share news content critically based on digital safety by safely evaluating information before sharing it.