<![CDATA[This study analyzes virtual communication related to opinion wars on social media concerning the rejection of the revision of the Local Government Election (Pilkada) Law in 2024 in Indonesia. A qualitative approach using a netnography method is employed to examine the contestation of two hashtags on X social media: #KawalPutusanMK and #Indonesiabaikbaiksaja. The hashtag #KawalPutusanMK is used by the public as a form of protest against the revision of the 2024 Local Government Election (Pilkada) Law, which is perceived as lacking transparency and threatening democracy. In contrast, the hashtag #Indonesiabaikbaiksaja emerged as a counter-hashtag supporting political stability and government policies. The results show that interactions on the #KawalPutusanMK hashtag are significantly higher than those on #Indonesiabaikbaiksaja, which tends to be viewed as a propaganda tool by social media users. Furthermore, the #KawalPutusanMK hashtag successfully mobilized public opinion through a strong narrative that was considered authentic, while the #Indonesiabaikbaiksaja hashtag faced many negative accusations. This research reveals how social media serves as an important arena for shaping public opinion and how perceptions of authenticity influence the effectiveness of a movement.]]>
Copyrights © 2025
