Veteran Entertainer Ciccio Manassero Reveals Surprising Technological Challenges Amidst a Digitally Evolving Indonesia

JAKARTA – In an era where digital fluency is increasingly becoming a universal expectation, even for public figures, veteran Indonesian entertainer Ciccio Manassero has candidly disclosed a surprising personal facet: a pronounced struggle with modern technology, colloquially known as "gaptek" (gagap teknologi). The revelation, made during an interview in Senayan on Friday, July 17, 2026, offers a unique glimpse into the diverse technological experiences that coexist within Indonesia’s rapidly digitizing society, even among those who have spent decades in the limelight. Manassero, whose illustrious career spans over 25 years in the entertainment industry, shared a humorous yet illustrative anecdote involving a failed digital payment attempt that underscored his self-professed technological limitations.

The 30-year-old actor and musician, known for his roles across various television series and films since his child star days, admitted his "gaptek" status without hesitation. "Yes, definitely. Oh, it’s pretty bad," Manassero stated, acknowledging a side of himself rarely seen by his vast public following. This frank admission comes at a time when digital transactions and smartphone ubiquity are at an all-time high in Indonesia, positioning his experience as a counter-narrative to the prevailing digital transformation narrative.

The QRIS Conundrum: A Humorous Misstep in Digital Payments

Manassero recounted a particularly amusing incident involving popular YouTuber and content creator Jerome Polin, which perfectly encapsulated his technological challenges. The two friends were dining together, and when it came time to settle the bill, Polin suggested a digital transfer via QRIS (Quick Response Code Indonesian Standard). "My friend Jerome, at that time, offered to transfer to him, we were eating together, using QRIS. Then he said, ‘just scan the QRIS.’ I scanned it with my phone’s camera, not from the m-banking application, so it wouldn’t work. That’s how ‘gaptek’ I am," Ciccio explained, highlighting a common, yet often overlooked, user error among those less familiar with specific digital protocols.

This simple misstep, scanning a QRIS code with a standard camera app instead of the dedicated mobile banking application, is a poignant example of the nuanced skills required for seamless digital interaction. While QRIS has been lauded for its simplicity and standardization across various payment providers, it still assumes a basic level of digital literacy regarding app functionalities and secure transaction processes. The anecdote not only served as a moment of self-deprecating humor for Manassero but also sparked a broader conversation about varying levels of digital proficiency among different demographics.

A Preference for the Tangible: Manual Transactions and Classic Devices

Despite owning a smartphone equipped with mobile banking applications, Manassero confessed to a strong preference for more traditional and manual transaction methods. He rarely utilizes the QR scanning feature, which has become a cornerstone of modern cashless payments in Indonesia. "I have m-banking, but I usually just type in the account number. This QR, QR thing, I scanned it with the camera instead of the m-banking app, it just didn’t work," he reiterated. This preference suggests a comfort zone rooted in established financial practices, where direct input of account numbers or physical cash transactions remain the default.

Furthermore, Manassero’s "gaptek" tendencies extend to his choice of personal devices. He reportedly opts for older model phones, describing his daily driver as "classic." This preference for what he terms "old-fashioned" gadgets over the latest smartphone iterations reinforces his disinterest in keeping pace with rapid technological advancements. In a market saturated with cutting-edge smartphones offering increasingly complex features, his choice stands out, underscoring a segment of the population that prioritizes familiarity and simplicity over advanced functionality.

Ciccio Manassero: A Quarter-Century in Entertainment and Beyond

Born July 19, 1993, Ciccio Manassero began his career at a very young age, making his debut in the late 1990s. His journey through Indonesian entertainment has seen him transition from a beloved child singer, famous for catchy pop tunes, to a versatile actor gracing numerous television dramas and feature films. His career trajectory has paralleled significant technological shifts, from the advent of the internet in Indonesian households to the mobile revolution and the current era of ubiquitous digital platforms. Having navigated the entertainment landscape for over 25 years, Manassero has witnessed firsthand the industry’s transformation, yet his personal engagement with the underlying technology appears to have remained somewhat detached. This long career, spanning various eras of media consumption and production, ironically highlights the potential for individuals to thrive professionally while maintaining a distinct personal distance from the very technologies shaping their world. His public persona as a modern celebrity contrasts sharply with his private admission of being technologically challenged, offering a nuanced perspective on public image versus personal reality.

Indonesia’s Digital Transformation: A Two-Speed Reality

Manassero’s admission arrives at a pivotal moment for Indonesia, a nation aggressively pursuing digital transformation. The government and Bank Indonesia have actively promoted cashless transactions and digital financial services, with QRIS being a flagship initiative. Launched in 2019, QRIS aims to standardize QR code payments across all providers, making digital transactions simpler and more accessible. By the end of 2023, Bank Indonesia reported that QRIS users had surpassed 45 million, with transaction volumes exceeding 1.2 billion, showcasing remarkable adoption rates across micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and consumers alike.

The widespread adoption of smartphones further underpins this digital push. According to various market research reports, smartphone penetration in Indonesia has reached over 80-90% of the population, making mobile devices the primary gateway to the internet and digital services for millions. Mobile banking, e-wallets, and online marketplaces have become integral to daily life for a significant portion of the urban and even rural populace.

However, beneath these impressive statistics lies a more complex reality. While digital infrastructure and access are expanding, digital literacy—the ability to find, evaluate, and effectively communicate information using digital technologies—remains a crucial challenge. Manassero’s experience, though anecdotal, points to the existence of a "two-speed" digital transformation, where advanced digital tools are available, but not everyone possesses the uniform skills or inclination to fully utilize them. This gap is not merely about access but also about understanding, comfort, and confidence in navigating the digital landscape.

Expert Perspectives on Digital Literacy and Inclusion

Sociologists and technology experts frequently highlight the importance of digital literacy as a fundamental skill in the 21st century. "Digital literacy is not just about owning a smartphone or having an internet connection; it’s about the ability to critically engage with digital tools, understand their functionalities, and use them securely and effectively," explains Dr. Aisha Rahman, a Jakarta-based digital economy analyst. "Experiences like Ciccio Manassero’s are valuable because they remind us that even in a highly connected society, there are varying levels of comfort and understanding. It’s a testament to the fact that while technology is ubiquitous, its adoption and proficiency are deeply personal and can be influenced by habit, generation, and even personality."

Furthermore, experts often emphasize the generational divide in tech adoption. While Ciccio Manassero (born 1993) belongs to a generation that experienced the dawn of the internet, he predates the true "digital native" era, typically associated with those born in the mid-1990s or later who grew up with ubiquitous internet access and mobile devices. This places him in a "digital immigrant" category, where technology adoption is often a learned behavior rather than an innate one, potentially leading to different comfort levels and preferences compared to younger demographics like Jerome Polin, who represents a generation fully immersed in digital platforms.

Implications for Public Figures and Digital Expectations

Manassero’s openness about his technological struggles is significant for several reasons. Firstly, it humanizes public figures, reminding audiences that celebrities, despite their polished public personas, navigate similar personal challenges as everyone else. In an age where social media presence and digital engagement are often seen as prerequisites for celebrity status, his admission offers a refreshing counter-narrative.

Secondly, it subtly challenges the implicit expectation that everyone, especially those in the public eye, must be digitally savvy. While many celebrities leverage technology for brand building and fan interaction, Manassero demonstrates that it is possible to maintain a successful career without being at the forefront of every technological trend. This can resonate with older audiences or those who also find themselves struggling to keep up with rapid technological changes, fostering a sense of shared experience.

Lastly, the incident serves as a gentle reminder to technology developers and service providers about the importance of intuitive design and user-friendliness. While QRIS is designed for simplicity, the fact that a user might instinctively use a camera app highlights areas where user education or more robust system prompts could further enhance the digital experience for all users, regardless of their tech proficiency.

Conclusion: Navigating the Digital Wave with Diverse Skills

Ciccio Manassero’s candid revelation about his "gaptek" tendencies, highlighted by his amusing QRIS payment mishap, offers a compelling and relatable insight into the multifaceted nature of Indonesia’s digital evolution. It underscores that while the nation makes significant strides in digital transformation and adoption, the journey is not uniform for all its citizens. From preferences for manual transactions to the choice of "classic" mobile devices, Manassero’s experience serves as a reminder that personal comfort levels, generational gaps, and individual inclinations continue to shape how people engage with technology. His story, far from being an isolated incident, reflects a broader societal dynamic where technological advancement coexists with varying degrees of digital literacy, emphasizing the ongoing need for inclusive digital strategies that cater to a diverse user base, ensuring that no one, regardless of their public profile or personal tech habits, is left behind in the ever-accelerating digital age.