RECONCILING PUBLIC JUSTICE AND DIGITAL CHARACTER EDUCATION

Abstract

The rapid development of algorithms and digital spaces has transformed how the younger generation interacts with public policy in Indonesia. This study examines the reconciliation of digital character education and public justice in the algorithmic era using a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) approach combined with a qualitative case study analysis. By comparing John Rawls's Theory of Justice and Michael Sandel's Communitarianism, this article evaluates how digital citizenship ethics are formed among youth responding to Indonesian public policies. Analyzing 40 peer-reviewed articles from Scopus (Q1-Q3) and Sinta (1-4) published within the last five years (2021-2026), the study highlights a critical tension: Rawlsian digital justice emphasizes individual liberties and algorithmic neutrality, whereas Sandelian communitarianism stresses embedded cultural identity and collective responsibility within digital enclaves. The case study reveals that algorithmic echo chambers often polarize youth responses to public policies like national health protocols or digital economy regulations. The study concludes that digital character education in Indonesia must bridge these two paradigms, fostering individuals who are both critically autonomous and locally anchored to achieve meaningful digital civic engagement.