Bridging the digital divide in remote Islands: Exploring literacy, culture, and community identity in Pulau Breueh, Indonesia

Digital transformation is often framed as a story about technology, yet in practice, it is also a story about people, how they learn, share, and adapt within their own cultural contexts. This study examines Pulau Breueh, a small island in Aceh, Indonesia, where daily life and digital change intersect in subtle but meaningful ways. Using a qualitative approach involving 135 interviews, focus group discussions, field observations, and short surveys, the research explores how residents navigate weak connectivity, high data costs, and limited digital training. Despite these constraints, local youth act as digital mentors for elders, mothers exchange information through WhatsApp groups, and traditional stories are increasingly shared online. These practices illustrate a form of cultural-digital resilience, a community's ability to integrate technology into its social and cultural rhythms rather than allowing it to disrupt them. The findings suggest that the digital divide in remote islands is not solely about infrastructure, but about connection, dignity, and shared identity. By highlighting a Global South perspective, this study contributes to international debates on digital inclusion and argues that inclusive digital transformation must begin with local meaning, not merely technological access. • Explores how remote island communities integrate digital tools into local cultural rhythms, reflecting cultural-digital resilience. • Identifies multidimensional digital divides shaped by infrastructure, literacy, and generational differences. • Highlights youth-led digital mentoring as a key mechanism driving intergenerational inclusion. • Shows how digitalization supports the preservation and visibility of local culture and identity. • Proposes community-driven and culturally grounded strategies for inclusive digital transformation in remote islands.