eprintid: 49111
rev_number: 11
eprint_status: archive
userid: 12253
dir: disk0/00/04/91/11
datestamp: 2022-02-04 14:30:00
lastmod: 2022-02-04 14:30:00
status_changed: 2022-02-04 14:30:00
type: article
metadata_visibility: show
creators_name: Iswandi Syahputra, -
creators_name: Rajab Ritonga, -
creators_name: Diah Ajeng Purwani, -
creators_name: Masduki, -
creators_name: Syarifah Ema Rahmaniah, -
creators_name: Umaimah Wahid, -
title: Pandemic politics and communication crisis How social media buzzers impaired the lockdown aspiration in Indonesia
ispublished: pub
subjects: komunikasi
subjects: ms
divisions: artkl
full_text_status: public
keywords: buzzer, crisis communication, lockdown, new media, COVID-19 pandemic
abstract: This study looks at the communication on social media in the initial period of the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia, specifically between the aspirations of citizens wishing for a lockdown and buzzers on Twitter rejecting it. Primary data of the study were obtained via interviews with three netizens who are social media activists. They were: CPL, an influencer on Twitter with 135,000 followers; HSW, a media literacy activist; and HA, a blogger. They were selected based on their influence and activities on social media as well as accessibility. The study identified two major findings: first, the public (netizens) via conversations on Twitter wanted the government to implement a lockdown at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the government disregarded this call by utilising buzzers on social media. In practice, these buzzers cyberbullied netizens who requested for a lockdown. Consequently, netizens became polarised between those supporting and opposing a lockdown. This triggered a communication crisis as it led to loss of trust in the government as it did not meet public expectations. Secondly, the government’s use of buzzers to shoot down calls for a lockdown positioned them as an apparatus in the crisis communication throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. This resulted in the emergence of “buzzer regime” and “buzzer state” . Buzzers are a part of the government’s informal apparatus that engage in activities on social media to repress netizens who hold opposing views against the government.
date: 2021
date_type: published
publication: SEARCH Journal of Media and Communication Research
volume: 13
number: 1
pagerange: 31-46
refereed: TRUE
issn: Online ISSN: 2672-7080
official_url: http://search.taylors.edu.my
citation:   Iswandi Syahputra, - and Rajab Ritonga, - and Diah Ajeng Purwani, - and Masduki, - and Syarifah Ema Rahmaniah, - and Umaimah Wahid, -  (2021) Pandemic politics and communication crisis How social media buzzers impaired the lockdown aspiration in Indonesia.  SEARCH Journal of Media and Communication Research, 13 (1).  pp. 31-46.  ISSN Online ISSN: 2672-7080     
document_url: https://digilib.uin-suka.ac.id/id/eprint/49111/1/Pandemic%20politics%20and%20communication%20crisis%20How%20social%20media%20buzzers%20imp.pdf
document_url: https://digilib.uin-suka.ac.id/id/eprint/49111/2/surat-surat-pernyataan1643984156.pdf