In the latest installment of Economix Review, hosts Jocelyn Mok and Kennedy Tangestu explored the dynamic convergence of technology, social media, and Indonesia's socio-economic landscape. This particular episode stands out as a special edition as it marks the collaboration between Economix and LINE Indonesia done in a novel video concept.
The spotlight of this episode is on LINE, a widely-used messaging app that has seamlessly become an integral part of the daily lives of millions of Indonesians. The hosts engaged in a thought-provoking conversation with Nico Dharmaputra, the Strategy Lead at LINE Indonesia, gaining valuable insights into how LINE is actively contributing to Indonesia's economic progress and societal advancements through its digital sector. This topic resonates strongly with Economix especially as one of this year’s subthemes focuses on the growth of developing countries.
LINE's Popularity and PR Perspective
LINE’s popularity as a social messaging platform is universally acknowledged in Indonesia. Nico highlighted the prevalent influence of LINE among Indonesia's youth, citing its intuitive interface, robust security measures, and engaging initiatives like LINE CONCERT, LINE CREATIVATE, and LINE RAMADAN. From his role as the Strategy Lead, Nico shed light on LINE's latest venture, GOKS.CO.ID, an innovative platform that gives discounts from renowned brands to university students. This strategic maneuver not only elevates the user journey but also propels economic dynamism within the burgeoning younger demographic.
Innovative Features: LINE SPLIT BILL and Creators Market
The dialogue then shifted towards LINE's trailblazing features, placing particular emphasis on the functionality of LINE SPLIT BILL. Nico explained how this innovative feature caters to a prevalent social custom in Indonesia, where sharing bills among friends when dining out is commonplace. Leveraging cutting-edge Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology, LINE SPLIT BILL streamlines this process, underscoring LINE's dedication to meeting the evolving needs of its users.
Furthermore, the conversation delved into the LINE Creators Market, a platform that empowers digital artists to craft and market stickers, emojis, and themes. Boasting a staggering 200,000 registered creators and an extensive collection of 2 million stickers -- including 80,000 creations by Indonesian artists -- LINE is actively nurturing a vibrant creative economy. Esteemed creators such as Tahilalats and Milk & Mocha have not only left an important mark on the platform but have also successfully monetized their artistic endeavors, making substantial contributions to Indonesia’s flourishing creative economy.
Empowering Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs)
The hosts delved into the pivotal role that LINE plays in supporting Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), which form a crucial foundation of Indonesia's business landscape. Nico elaborated on LINE's instrumental tool, LINE Official Accounts, designed to seamlessly connect brands and businesses with their clientele. The array of robust features, including the impactful Rich Message, furnishes businesses with efficient communication channels. Furthermore, LINE actively champions these enterprises by prominently featuring them within its app, affording them heightened visibility to the expansive user base.
Nico underscored that LINE's commitment extends to offline initiatives like webinars and seminars. These endeavors serve to educate brands and businesses on optimizing the advantages offered by LINE Official Accounts. In cultivating an inclusive and user-friendly ecosystem, LINE becomes a catalyst for the growth of SMEs, making substantial contributions to the broader economic landscape.
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Initiatives
The dialogue took a socially responsible turn as Nico sheds light on LINE's corporate social responsibility (CSR) endeavors. In a collaborative effort with Dicoding, LINE Indonesia has inaugurated the LINE Developer Academy, providing free technological education to a commendable cohort of over 15,000 students throughout Indonesia. This initiative not only nurtures talent but also resonates with LINE's overarching mission of fostering inclusivity in the digital realm.
Furthermore, LINE has entered into a partnership with BagiKata to address mental health concerns through "Mimin LINE," an Official Account that extends genuine human support to users grappling with personal challenges. The impact has been noteworthy, with Mimin LINE assuming the role of a digital guardian angel for nearly 15,000 users.
Digital Literacy and Combating Fake News
Recognizing the importance of digital literacy, LINE Indonesia has forged partnerships with the Associated Press and Masyarakat Anti-Fitnah Indonesia (MAFINDO) for the "Stop Fake News" campaign. This collaboration is done to elevate media literacy levels, fostering a more secure digital environment by giving knowledge to users on how to evaluate the authenticity of news. LINE's steadfast dedication to combating the spread of misinformation is demonstrated by giving educational content and monitoring posts by LINE users.
Closing the episode.
The episode highlighted LINE Indonesia's significant contributions to the country's socio-economic growth, from fostering creativity to empowering SMEs and promoting digital literacy. The LINE app is not just a communication platform; it has become an integral part of Indonesia's economic and social landscape. With a commitment to creating value and using technology for everyone to benefit from, LINE Indonesia continues to shape the future of the nation. As the episode closes, it is evident that LINE's spirit of innovation and responsibility resonates throughout its journey in Indonesia.
