Navigating Democracy: The Role of Digital Media in Indonesia's Political Communication Landscape
Abstract
Since Indonesia’s democratic transition in 1998, digital media has profoundly reshaped the country’s political communication landscape. From elite-dominated television to grassroots-driven social platforms, the evolution of digital infrastructure has influenced how political messages are created, disseminated, and consumed. However, scholarly insights remain fragmented across scales and actors. This study aims to critically examine how digital media has transformed the logic of political communication in Indonesia across national and sub-national contexts between 2004 and 2024. Using a systematic literature review approach, 122 peer-reviewed articles were identified through searches in Scopus, Web of Science, and Garuda, using PRISMA 2020 protocols. Thematic and bibliometric analyses were conducted using NVivo and VOSviewer software to map key trends and actor dynamics. The findings indicate four dominant patterns: (1) the central role of television in national agenda-setting persists, but is increasingly contested by algorithm-driven social platforms; (2) significant variation exists at the local level, where WhatsApp and community radio play key roles; (3) new political actors including influencers and digital volunteers reshape campaign narratives; and (4) big-data tools enable hyper-targeted messaging, raising ethical concerns. These findings demonstrate how Indonesia’s digital ecosystem mediates both centralised control and decentralised participation. The study contributes to debates on hybrid media systems and democratic deepening in emerging political contexts.
Keywords: Big data, democratic transition, digital media, Indonesia, political communication.
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