Pandemic politics and communication crisis How social media buzzers impaired the lockdown aspiration in Indonesia

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

[img]
Preview
Text (Pandemic politics and communication crisis How social media buzzers impaired the lockdown aspiration in Indonesia)
Pandemic politics and communication crisis How social media buzzers imp.pdf - Published Version

Download (487kB) | Preview
[img]
Preview
Text (Surat Pernyataan)
surat-surat-pernyataan1643984156.pdf - Published Version

Download (19kB) | Preview
Official URL: http://search.taylors.edu.my

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.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: buzzer, crisis communication, lockdown, new media, COVID-19 pandemic
Subjects: Komunikasi
Media Sosial
Divisions: Artikel (Terbitan Luar UIN)
Depositing User: Dra. Khusnul Khotimah, SS, M.IP -
Date Deposited: 04 Feb 2022 21:30
Last Modified: 04 Feb 2022 21:30
URI: http://digilib.uin-suka.ac.id/id/eprint/49111

Share this knowledge with your friends :

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item
Chat Kak Imum