The dominance of consumptive activities in the utilization of digital technology in Indonesia has now become a major focus. Based on the latest research from the NEXT Indonesia Center titled 'Digital Behavior of the Middle Class', the Indonesian public tends to act more as consumers on various digital platforms rather than drivers of the productive economy.
The findings, sourced from the data processing of the March 2025 National Socio-Economic Survey (Susenas), highlight a significant gap in Indonesia's digital economy. Although the projected value of the national digital economy reaches US$100 billion or equivalent to IDR 1,800 trillion, these economic benefits have not been evenly distributed as a source of income for the wider community.
NEXT Indonesia Center researcher, Rezky Reza Pratama, emphasized that the indicator of a country's digital economic success should not only be measured by the volume of online shopping transactions. According to him, a more crucial parameter is the ability of digital platforms to provide access for the public to obtain a steady income.
To date, the growth in the number of sellers or business actors on e-commerce platforms is considered to be stagnant. This condition poses a challenge for stakeholders to shift public behavior from merely shopping online to being more productive in utilizing the digital ecosystem for economic independence.
