<![CDATA[Social media X (formerly Twitter) has become a paradoxical digital public sphere; offering freedom of expression on one hand, while creating social pressure that silences minority opinions on the other. This study aims to analyze the phenomenon of using alter accounts as a communication strategy to negotiate the fear of social isolation, a core concept in the Spiral of Silence theory. Employing a qualitative method with a phenomenological approach, data were collected through in-depth interviews with seven active users of social media X who possess alter accounts. The findings indicate that on main accounts linked to real identities, users experience strong pressure from the hegemony of majority opinion and fear social sanctions such as professional reputation damage. Conversely, alter accounts serve as an effective resistance mechanism to break this Spiral of Silence. The anonymity provided by alter accounts nullifies the relevance of social pressure, allowing individuals to shift from silence to being vocal and honest in voicing criticism or support for sensitive issues. However, this freedom is not absolute due to the emergence of new fears such as doxing threats and legal sanctions (ITE Law). This phenomenon reflects the state of Indonesia's digital public sphere, which has not yet fully matured in accepting dissent, where honesty requires the shield of an anonymous identity.]]>
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