"Of course, since it takes shape in the online form, it falls into the (realm of the) legal aspect. We will address it further with the Yogyakarta Police Force. On February 2023, we will meet and discuss about the updates on social media," head of the Yogyakarta Social Affairs Office Endang Patmintarsih stated in Yogyakarta on Monday.
Patminarsih noted that all along, the two entities had been addressing busking and begging on the streets, particularly those involving children, elderly, and other vulnerable groups, in an exploitative manner.
"When they are on the streets to beg, we (take action) right away. That too, we have tried them, and there is also sanction according to regional regulation. We have done those to impose a deterrent effect," she affirmed.
The office head said she had yet to receive reports on online begging.
Patminarsih said she is still waiting for Social Affairs Minister Tri Rismaharini to issue a circular for regional governments that prohibited exploitation of the elderly following the phenomenon depicting such things.
"The circular is meant for governors and head of districts. Well, I have yet to receive that disposition. Maybe, the governor has not received it," she stated.
Nonetheless, Patminarsih said her administration would still take preventive measures by collaborating with the Yogyakarta Communication and Informatics Office to educate people, so they would be wise in using social media.
She expected that Yogyakarta's people would not take part in the online begging trend that has become prevalent on some platforms, such as TikTok.
"With haste, we will educate people that in the digital era, when one watches TikTok, seeing contents, such as online begging, it must be filtered, (so one would not) easily feel bad," she stated.
Expert from Gadjah Mada University (UGM) Derajat Sulistyo Widhyarto said that education was necessary to prevent people from exploiting others' compassion to gain profit on social media platforms, particularly through means that took advantage of vulnerable people.
"I think netizens are not stupid people. Indeed, sometimes, they can put their emotions ahead, so they give money out of pity," Widhyarto remarked.
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Translator: Luqman Hakim, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Sri Haryati
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