Raising Digital Heroes: How CYBERHEROES Builds Healthy Internet Habits for Gen Z

The internet has become the main stage of life for today's young generation. By 2025, internet penetration in Indonesia had reached 79.5% of the population, with the majority coming from Generation Z. This shows how deeply the internet has shaped the way young people learn, communicate, and interact every day. But along with these opportunities come serious challenges. UNICEF has reported that the risks of being online for teenagers include cyberbullying and harassment, exposure to harmful content such as pornography and violence, and the potential for digital addiction that can affect their physical, mental, and social well-being.

To respond to these issues, Telkom Indonesia launched CYBERHEROES: Healthy Internet Literacy, a movement designed to create a safer, healthier, and more responsible digital ecosystem. The program is not just about teaching basic digital skills; it is about raising awareness of online risks, fostering ethics and responsibility in internet use, and encouraging schools and families to build positive digital environments. The bigger goal is to help young people grow into not only tech-savvy but also digitally wise individuals.

CYBERHEROES has reached 30 schools with a target of 1,800 students, using a watch-party format that makes it possible for participants to learn interactively from different locations. The first batch was successfully held on September 27, 2025, with 600 participants, and the next two batches will continue in early October in collaboration with SMK Telkom Malang. The excitement and interactivity of the sessions show that when young people are given the right tools, they are more than ready to become champions of healthy digital culture.

Hery Susanto, Senior General Manager of Social Responsibility at Telkom Indonesia, explained that as a digital telco company, Telkom Indonesia is committed to providing not just internet access for everyone, but access that is safe, healthy, and responsible. Through CYBERHEROES, the company aims to empower the younger generation to use technology wisely while strengthening digital literacy among students and parents. This initiative also supports the global Sustainable Development Goals, especially SDG 4 on Quality Education, SDG 10 on Reduced Inequalities, and SDG 16 on Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions.

Ultimately, CYBERHEROES is more than just a program-it is part of Telkom Indonesia's broader Social and Environmental Responsibility (TJSL) commitment to building a protected and empowered digital society. By joining CYBERHEROES, young Indonesians are invited to step up as digital heroes: not only internet users, but active drivers of positive change in the online world.