Gus Baha Says Digital Information Is Changing What People Choose to Think About

JAKARTA, INDOLIN.ID — Indonesian Islamic scholar Ahmad Bahauddin Nursalim, widely known as Gus Baha, said the constant flow of information through messaging platforms and social media was encouraging people to concern themselves with national issues, even when those issues fell outside their immediate responsibilities.

Gus Baha said the continuous stream of messages could shape what people think about and influence their priorities without them realizing it.

He cited the example of someone living in Malang who could suddenly find themselves thinking about issues in Jakarta simply because they received information about the capital through WhatsApp.

“If you keep using WhatsApp, you are being directed. You may want to think about what your child needs, but because you receive information about Jakarta on WhatsApp, you start thinking about Jakarta,” Gus Baha said in a religious lecture aired on a TikTok account on Monday (Sept. 28).

He said the same pattern could cause people's attention to move rapidly from one region to another as new information arrived.

“Jakarta is not even finished, then information about Sulawesi comes in and you start thinking about Sulawesi. Then you think about NTT,” he said, referring to East Nusa Tenggara.

According to Gus Baha, the national scope of information circulating online has contributed to a situation in which people increasingly feel they have a role in discussing and solving national affairs.

“That is why everyone now feels like a national figure, because the information coming in is national,” he said.

Gus Baha used the example of a neighbourhood association leader, or RT, to illustrate his point. An RT leader, he said, has specific responsibilities within his local community but may become preoccupied with national affairs because of the information reaching him through digital platforms.

“Even an RT starts thinking about Indonesia, although he is an RT,” he said.

Gus Baha also explained why he does not use WhatsApp. He said avoiding the platform helps him maintain his focus on his role as a religious scholar.

“That is why I still don't have WhatsApp, because I am a religious scholar. If I kept using WhatsApp, it would become complicated and I would no longer be a religious scholar,” he said.

His remarks highlight a broader issue surrounding the digital information age: the constant flow of national and global news can blur the boundaries between issues that require a person's immediate attention and those beyond their direct responsibilities.

For Gus Baha, the ability to filter information and maintain focus is essential in an environment where digital platforms can continuously redirect people's attention.(Janne Sinten)