<![CDATA[The development of the digital public sphere causes issues related to demonstrations to potentially escalate rapidly through interactions between social media, online media, and institutional communication. This study analyzes the development of the issue of the blockade of the demonstration heading towards the Hotel Indonesia (HI) Roundabout in June 2026, evaluates the appropriateness of PMJ’s communication strategy at each stage of escalation, and identifies the factors that accelerated and slowed the issue’s development. The study uses a qualitative approach with a descriptive case study design. Data were obtained through documentation of PMJ’s official communications, social media monitoring, online media coverage, and Drone Emprit data during 11–15 June 2026. The analysis uses Issue Life Cycle Theory, operationalized into four stages: Scanning, Monitoring, Early Warning, and Crisis Response, with indicators of reach, account volume, Key Opinion Leader (KOL) involvement, and media coverage. Results show the issue developed very rapidly from a student network into a national issue. Drone Emprit monitoring recorded more than 170,000 mentions, approximately 391 million public interactions, and 6,661 news articles during the observation period. PMJ’s communication strategy generally followed the escalation increase. Accelerating factors included the symbolic value of the HI Roundabout, viral visual content, digital actor involvement, and the spread of actions across regions. Official clarifications, alternative locations, and fact-checking mechanisms functioned as dampening factors. The study concludes that managing escalation of public space issues requires a fast, proportional, and symmetrical response between the security dimension and policy substance, as well as cross-institutional communication coordination.]]>
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