Developing Economic Literacy and Digital Skills to Foster a Generation of Smart Consumers

Abstract

The rapid development of digital technology and economic globalization has significantly transformed consumption patterns among junior high school students. Data from the National Survey on Financial Literacy and Inclusion indicated that the financial literacy index of junior high school students in Indonesia remains at a "sufficient" level of 49.68%, revealing a critical gap between students’ digital exposure and their economic competence. Data from the Indonesian Internet Service Providers Association further showed that 79.5% of Indonesian internet users are young people aged 13–18, many of whom conduct online transactions without adequate consumer literacy. This Pengabdian Masyarakat Berbasis Potensi (PMBP) program aimed to develop economic literacy and digital skills among students of SMP Laboratorium UM, Malang, through an integrative 3P approach: Education, Training, and Counseling. Implementation methods included interactive lectures, group discussions, demonstrations, practical sessions, and sustained mentoring, anchored in experiential learning theory. Evaluation using pre-post questionnaires revealed significant improvements: understanding of the smart consumer concept rose from 55% to 90%, knowledge of consumer rights and obligations from 50% to 88%, ability to distinguish needs from wants from 60% to 92%, and understanding of digital transaction security from 45% to 85%. The program successfully fostered economic literacy, digital competence, and responsible consumer behavior among participants.