Factors Affecting Digital Literacy in Young Adults

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to find out the influence of demographic factors, internet use, and smartphone use on young adult digital literacy. This is a quantitative research. The research subjects were young adults aged between 18-24 years using convenience sampling so that 184 people were collected. The research instrument uses a digital literacy scale, The Questionnaire of Experiences Related to the Internet (TQERI) and The Questionnaire of Experiences Related to the Mobile Phone (TQERMP). Data collection was carried out online via Google form for 7 days in July 2022. Based on the results of data analysis, it was found that partially only smartphone use had a significant effect on digital literacy (sig = .069) while internet use did not. But simultaneously, both significantly affect digital literacy (sig= .001). Both can predict 8.2% of digital literacy. The influencing demographic factor is sex, especially women who tend to have higher digital literacy than men (sig=.024, =-1.012). The demographic factor of the area of residence cannot predict the level of digital literacy (sig=.935, =-.182). Keywords: digital literacy, internet, smartphone, demographic