The Institute for Advanced Science, Social, and Sustainable Future (IASSSF) held a webinar on Friday, October 9, 2026, titled “Ramai di Dunia Maya, Sepi di Dunia Nyata: Membangun Komunikasi Bermakna dalam Perspektif Islam” (“Busy Online, Lonely Offline: Building Meaningful Communication from an Islamic Perspective”). Held on Zoom from 13:30 to 15:30 WIB (UTC+7), including students, lecturers, researchers, practitioners and members of the public.
The webinar began with a paradox familiar to many young people today: technology has made it easier than ever to reach others, yet emotional closeness often grows thinner. Drawing on Islamic values, digital communication and the psychology of communication, three speakers explored how people can turn endless connectivity into relationships that truly matter.
Setting the tone, environmental communication expert Dr. Trisia Megawati Kusuma Dewi, S.Sos., M.Si. framed social media use as a question of responsibility and purpose. Speaking on the challenges of sustainability communication, she invited participants to think about how communication strategies on social media can be shaped by an Islamic approach, grounded in the belief that humans are stewards, or khalifah, on earth. “Life comes from nothing, becomes something, and returns to nothing,” she said. “When the time comes to be held accountable, we should already know what we need to do now.” That transition toward future goals, she added, can happen through many channels, including social media.
Building on that idea, Siti Khadijah, S.Sos., M.Si., of Universitas Muhammadiyah Indonesia, argued that the answer is not to retreat from digital platforms but to engage with them wisely. “Social media is not something we should avoid. In this era, we have to step into technology,” she said, “but we must use it wisely.” Technology, she stressed, is simply a tool to support human life, and it is people who decide whether it brings them closer together or further apart.
That human dimension was at the heart of the final session by Dr. Syukri Pulungan, S.Sos.I., M.Psi., Executive Director of PUSKESTAL. “Our generation does not lack connections. We have plenty of them,” he told participants, urging them to begin with presence. In his view, meaningful communication is not measured by how often or how quickly people message one another. “It is communication in which people feel heard and seen, and in which they matter to someone else.”
Together, the three sessions pointed to a shared message: meaningful communication begins with purpose, is sustained by wise use of technology, and is ultimately measured by the presence people offer one another. The webinar also aimed to encourage participants to carry that message into their own work by putting their ideas into writing, one of the ways thoughts can be shared, heard and valued by others. This spirit is reflected in IASSSF’s National Scientific Writing Competition (Lomba Karya Tulis Ilmiah, LKTI) 2026, themed “Integrating Religion, Communication, and Psychology in Addressing the Challenges of Contemporary Society.” The competition invites students and academics to turn their ideas and perspectives on today’s social issues into scholarly work, with awards for the winners and the opportunity to develop their papers for journal publication.
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