IDEAS: Journal on English Language Teaching and Learning, Linguistics and Literature
Vol. 14 No. 1 (2026): IDEAS: Journal on English Language Teaching and Learning, Linguistics and Lite

Representing Cyberbullying Perpetrators in Indonesian Digital Media: A Critical Discourse Analysis of the Jakarta Post

Erika Agustiana (Unknown)



Article Info

Publish Date
19 May 2026

Abstract

This study examines how cyberbullying perpetrators are portrayed in Indonesian digital media through a Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) of "Online Evil: Indonesia's Cyberbullying Problem" published by The Jakarta Post. It explores the linguistic representation of cyberbullying perpetrators and how such portrayals reflect social ideologies and digital culture in Indonesian society. Using a qualitative approach, the study applies Norman Fairclough's three-dimensional CDA framework alongside social actor representation theory and transitivity analysis. Data consisting of words, phrases, clauses, and sentences were collected through documentation and close reading, then analysed at micro, meso, and macro levels. Findings reveal that perpetrators are depicted through negative word choices, aggressive metaphors, transitivity patterns, and collectivization strategies. Anonymous perpetrators are framed as aggressive and destructive figures through expressions like "internet trolls" and "hateful comments", while relational perpetrators are represented collectively through social actor categorization. The study also shows that cyberbullying discourse is closely tied to digital pragmatics, including face-threatening acts, impoliteness, and online identity negotiation. Media narratives construct cyberbullying as symbolic violence and a social threat in digital spaces. These findings suggest that media discourse not only reports cyberbullying but also reproduces ideologies about deviant digital behaviour. Pedagogically, this study contributes to digital pragmatics and critical digital literacy instruction within Outcome-Based Education (OBE) frameworks in higher education.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

ideas

Publisher

Subject

Languange, Linguistic, Communication & Media

Description

IDEAS Journal is published twice a year in the months of June and December (P-ISSN 2338-4778 and E-ISSN 2548-4192); it presents articles on English language teaching and learning, linguistics, and literature. The contents include analyses, studies and application of theories, research report, ...