The Impact of Internet Motive and Access on the Opportunities and Risks of Teenager Internet Users in Indonesia

Indonesia, as a developing country in the Asian region, has a very rapid growth of internet users.The internet users had reached 171.17 million users and had penetrated more than 66% of teenagers in 2019.The internet is like a double-edged sword and subtly intertwined: provide intended consequences (onlineopportunities) but also the potential for unintended consequences (online risks). This study examined howthe access and motives of Indonesian teenagers using the internet are correlated with the opportunities andrisks that arise from such use. A self-administered survey was conducted with teenagers aged 12-18 inIndonesia, and the results analysed with Path analysis. The results indicated that the youth motives for usingthe internet—such as for study, entertainment, social connection or other—directly affect their opportunitiesbut did not alter the risk levels of internet usage. The higher motives and the easier teenagers access theinternet, the more likely they are experiencing and gaining opportunities on the internet. The effortlessnessand the ability teenagers access internet bring not only opportunities but also risks. Teenagers canexperience online risks through online opportunities. This research found a moderate degree of internetaccess influence on online risk, so guidance and supervision in accessing the internet are very important andwill help to reduce risks and increase opportunities. Future research should explore on features in socialmedia and applications that impact to opportunity and risk