DILI, 26 August 2025 (TATOLI) – The Center for Culture and Art Studies (CECA), under the National University of Timor-Lorosa’e (UNTL), in collaboration with Mackenzie University from São Paulo, Brazil, is hosting an international seminar titled “Communication Challenges in the Digital Age.” The seminar is taking place from August 25 to 28 at the Faculty of Economics, UNTL, in Colmera.
CECA Director Vicente Paulino stated that the event features two Brazilian speakers –a journalist and a professor from Mackenzie University – and includes three sessions over three days. The initiative is aimed not only at the academic community but also at media professionals.
Paulino emphasized that communication should primarily serve to inform and educate, and must be inclusive and respectful. He stressed that all citizens have a responsibility to actively contribute to building effective communication in the digital era.
“We must avoid the spread of misinformation, often circulated on social media or biased platforms, which do not always reflect reality accurately,” Paulino said in Dili.
Rafael Fonseca, a professor at Mackenzie University and one of the seminar’s speakers, addressed the concept of inclusive communication, sharing insights from the Brazilian context.
“In Brazil, we’ve identified inclusive communication as a major challenge –creating communication that excludes no one. That’s what we mean by inclusive communication,” Fonseca explained.
He also highlighted contextual differences between the two countries: “Timor-Leste is a small but multilingual nation. Brazil, by contrast, is a vast country with a single official language. In Timor-Leste, the challenge of inclusion is closely tied to linguistic diversity, while in Brazil it’s more connected to socioeconomic, cognitive, and educational factors,” he noted.
Auxiliadora Soares, a master’s student at UNTL and seminar participant, added that inclusive communication must go beyond infrastructure and include pedagogical considerations.
“Teachers and counselors must understand they’re working with individuals who are still developing their cognitive abilities. Communication shouldn’t be confined to classrooms or formal education settings –it must also reach those outside the system,” she concluded.
Key challenges of digital communication discussed during the seminar include:
- Misinformation and disinformation spread via social media;
- Loss of non-verbal cues, which can hinder trust and understanding;
- Security vulnerabilities, such as data breaches and privacy violations;
- Notification overload, contributing to stress and distraction;
- Constant adaptation to emerging technologies;
- Limited digital literacy and skills among users;
- Ethical concerns, including cyberbullying and manipulation;
These issues can lead to reduced productivity, heightened stress, and difficulty in forming authentic connections in the digital age.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Rafael Ximenes de A. Belo
