Strengthening Digital Literacy and AI Ethics for Children and Adolescents through Participatory Approaches and Experiential Learning

The Community Service Program (PKM) "Bijak dan Etis Menggunakan AI" is a collaborative program between the service team of the Faculty of Communication and Business Sciences (FKB) Telkom University and the Bandung Wetan District Government which was held in Tamansari Village, Bandung City. This program responds to social phenomena in the form of increasingly massive Artificial Intelligence (AI) empowerment, accompanied by the increasing use of consumptive AI without critical understanding, thereby encouraging the potential for the spread of hoaxes, a decrease in the quality of social interaction, and the misuse of digital data. The main target of this activity is children and adolescents as an age group that is in the digital transition phase and has great potential to become active users of AI. The methods used in the implementation of this activity include participatory methods, experiential learning methods, mentoring methods, and active involvement-based evaluations. The activity was carried out in the form of interactive workshops, discussions, and mini projects in the form of visualization of ideals using AI assistance. The stages are systematically designed to encourage participants to recognize the basic forms of AI, understand digital ethics, realize the importance of cybersecurity, and implement AI positively in daily life, such as schoolwork and exploration of professional interests. The results of the program show an increase in digital literacy and participants' awareness of the wise and ethical use of AI. Children and adolescents are able to recognize forms of AI generative content, distinguish reality from imagination, and form critical and inclusive digital communities. This program also shows the success of an integrated educational strategy between academics, the community, and local stakeholders as an effort to support the vision of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in building a digitally smart generation.