The Role of Financial Literacy and Critical Thinking in Facing the Digital Era

Abstract

Financial literacy and critical thinking skills are essential for navigating the digital age, helping individuals manage finances, evaluate information, and avoid scams. These skills are interconnected and mutually reinforcing. Many students lack adequate financial literacy and critical thinking skills, making them vulnerable to financial mismanagement, misleading information, and online scams. Current educational processes have not sufficiently instilled these skills.  A qualitative approach was used, involving in-depth interviews with middle school students and teachers in Bekasi Regency. Data was collected through interviews, documentation, and literature review, then analyzed through data reduction, presentation, and conclusion drawing. Financial literacy helps individuals manage finances and make smart financial decisions, while critical thinking enables them to assess the validity of information. Both skills are crucial for economic and intellectual well-being. Enhancing financial literacy and developing critical thinking abilities should be a primary focus in education to prepare students for the complexities of the digital era. Offers valuable insights for future educational and literacy development