Digitalization as an Educational Strategy for Local Cultural Preservation: A Study on the Role of Digital Platforms in Shaping the Cultural Literacy of the Younger Generation

Abstract

In the face of rapid digital transformation, intangible cultural heritage (ICH) in Indonesia especially among youth is at risk of erosion. While digital technologies offer new avenues for documentation and dissemination, their pedagogical potential remains underexplored. This qualitative case study investigates how digital platforms such as social media, augmented reality, and interactive e-learning are leveraged as active educational strategies for cultural preservation across three Indonesian contexts: Javanese performing arts, Minangkabau oral literature, and Papuan ritual knowledge. Through semi-structured interviews (n = 32), digital artifact analysis, and classroom observation, the study identifies three key dimensions: (1) reconfiguration of cultural narratives through digital mediation, (2) youth as co-creators not passive recipients of heritage, and (3) the critical role of intentional pedagogical design. Findings underscore that effective digital preservation must be grounded in culturally responsive education, positioning technology as a conduit for intergenerational dialogue, identity formation, and ethical co-creation.