Balikpapan, November 6, 2025 — The Institut Teknologi Kalimantan (ITK) once again hosted an educational event addressing the challenges faced by today’s young generation. The Electrical Engineering Study Program successfully organized a talk show titled “Elevate” at the Integrated Laboratory Building 1 Auditorium.

The event featured well-known educational content creator Sadam Permana, recognized for his critical and logical approach to digital issues. It was attended by ITK Electrical Engineering faculty members and university leaders, reflecting the institution’s strong support for cultivating rational thinking among students.

During the discussion, Sadam emphasized that the key for Generation Z (Gen Z) to remain logical and not easily reactive amidst the flood of information is self-calmness.

“As a generation living in this fast-paced era, information comes quickly from all directions. It’s our duty to stay calm first before reacting,” said Sadam.

Strategies to Counter Hoaxes and Digital Euphoria

Sadam shared practical strategies to help Gen Z avoid falling for hoaxes or conspiracy theories:

• Be Proactive in Seeking the Truth: Don’t immediately judge a piece of news—verify it first. Sadam highlighted the importance of viewing information from multiple perspectives before drawing conclusions.
• Calm Your Mind: Don’t be easily swayed by what appears in front of you.
• Adopt a “Third Perspective”: On social media, treat every trending news item as a third-person viewpoint (objective observer) and avoid being carried away by biased trends or hype.
• Criticism as Evaluation: Negative comments on social media should be seen as opportunities for self-improvement.

Core Message: Be Critical, Resilient, and Full of Integrity

Sadam stressed that a rational and critical mindset plays a vital role in shaping a resilient and integrity-driven generation.

• Think Critically: His key message was for Gen Z to maintain critical thinking, avoid believing in distorted narratives, and seek information from diverse sources.
• Stay Focused and Keep Smiling: Addressing the pressures of academic life and daily challenges, he encouraged:
• “Always remember, the storm will pass... everything ends in its own time. So, face it all with a smile and stay focused on what’s in front of you.”
• Avoid Anarchy: After verifying information, Sadam reminded Gen Z to refrain from taking anarchic or impulsive actions.

The Elevate event, initiated by the ITK Electrical Engineering Program, aimed to ignite students’ critical and rational spirit in facing the overwhelming challenges of the digital age, while also strengthening collaboration between academia and young inspirational figures.