Digital Ethics for Safe Online Shopping

Digital Literacy and Secure Online Transaction Education for the Tunggilis Village Community, Kalipucang

Abstract

This community service program aimed to strengthen digital ethics and safe online-shopping practices among residents of Tunggilis Village, Kalipucang District, Pangandaran Regency. A preliminary interview with 30 residents indicated a practical literacy gap: 72% used the internet daily, 85% did not understand privacy settings, 63% had received suspicious messages or links, and only 22% knew how to report them. The program was conducted on 21-23 July 2025 through a participatory approach combining contextual presentations, interactive discussions, case studies, demonstrations, and simulations. The learning content covered responsible digital communication, personal-data protection, strong passwords, phishing and hoax recognition, online-store verification, secure payment practices, and complaint or reporting channels. Qualitative evaluation through facilitator observation, question-and-answer sessions, participant reflections, and simulation performance indicated that participants developed a more structured way of recognizing suspicious offers, protecting credentials, checking seller information, and selecting safer responses before completing online transactions. The activity also encouraged participants to use digital platforms more confidently, responsibly, and productively for everyday communication and commerce. The participatory, problem-based format was particularly suitable for rural community learning because it connected digital-safety principles with situations residents commonly encounter. Continuous mentoring, periodic refresher sessions, and a village digital-information corner are recommended to sustain these practices.