Media literacy, digital exposure, governance and trust in Pesantren sustainability: the moderating role of management openness in the post-truth era

This study investigated the sustainability of Pesantren in Indonesia amidst rising digital exposure and shifting governance demands in the post-truth era. As traditional Islamic boarding schools, Pesantren are increasingly challenged to integrate media literacy and digital tools without compromising their religious identity and educational integrity. The central issue addressed was the pressure between digital transformation and sustainable institutional governance. Guided by the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), the study employed a quantitative survey approach, gathering data from 406 respondents across various Pesantren roles. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM-PLS) was used to analyze the influence of media literacy, digital exposure, institutional governance, and trust in social media on Pesantren sustainability, with management openness examined as a moderating variable. The results revealed that digital exposure and trust significantly enhanced management openness, positively affecting sustainability. However, media literacy and institutional regulations showed no direct impact, highlighting the critical role of leadership attitudes. This study implies that management openness and digital trust are strategic levers for sustaining Pesantren in a digitalized, post-truth society. The findings underscore the need for adaptive governance and culturally grounded digital literacy frameworks to ensure the long-term relevance and resilience of Pesantren.