Social Media as Forum for Campaigning in Indonesia

Technological developments in this world have developed very rapidly from time to time, and gave birth to many new media, one of which is social media and with the existence of social media nowadays, it is increasingly easier for virtual interactions for individuals or groups. Apart from that, social media also has the power to spread the latest opinions and information or the latest news very quickly. Many people are already active on any social media, based on We Are Social in October 2020, more than 4 billion people worldwide now use social media every month, and an average of nearly 2 million new users join them every day. 

The world also spends more time on social media, with casual users now spending about 15 percent of their real life using social platforms. You could say that in today's era, social media has become part of our lives, and even social media itself is used by all ages regardless of old age, they still play social media for their personal needs, even social media itself can make money by promoting something to the public.

The presence of social media also affects the political field, one of them. Based on an article written by insaf albert tarigan entitled "The Role of Social Media in Political Campaigns" - Barack Obama running for president of the United States in 2008, he made full use of the power of the internet, particularly social media as a political medium. campaign tool. Media and academics in the country then compared the use of social media in the Obama campaign with the role of television in the campaign of President John F. Kennedy. 

Douglas Hagar (2014) in Campaigning Online: Social Media in the 2010 Niagara Municipal Elections says that social media can contribute to political success. This is because social media allows candidates in elections to interact with potential voters on a scale and intensity that cannot be achieved through traditional campaign patterns such as door-to-door campaigns, brochures, and even print and television media coverage.

Indonesia has also started campaigning by utilizing social media and has been regulated in the General Election Commission (PKPU) Regulation No.1 of 2012 concerning legislative campaigns through social media or social networks such as Facebook and Twitter, such as during the presidential election. Jokowi - Amin and Prabowo - Sandiaga in 2019. Both candidates use many social media platforms such as Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and even YouTube.

In addition, there was also the 2020 Pilkada which was busy because of Covid-19 which made campaigning on social media or the internet more prioritized, and when the elections were held in this pandemic, BAWASLU tweeted "The implementation of protocol health is one of the objects of Bawaslu's supervision in organizing the election. Simultaneously in 2020. Not only based on the Election Law, Bawaslu also takes a legal approach to other regulations which will be coordinated with related parties." And the 2020 Pilkada was held throughout Indonesia at a time when this virus was epidemic, but with the direction of Bawaslu, health protocols that must be considered are still a priority when people choose.

However, it cannot be denied that campaigning on social media is also not completely reliable, even though there are many social media users. Because by campaigning on social media, irresponsible people will find it easier to spread hoax news about each political actor. In addition, hoax accounts spread on social media can bring down each other or there are black campaigns spreading news that do not match the facts. 

The black campaign itself has taken place in Indonesia, such as the slander that was accused of Jokowi when he was a presidential candidate in 2019. And even for black campaign issues, Indonesia has given a law for black campaign issues, in article 240 paragraph 1 letter UU Pemilu, that every implementer perpetrator or special organization that violates campaigning policies will be subject to criminal law for up to 24 years with a maximum fine of 24 million rupiah.

It can be concluded that social media is indeed one of the new media which is very useful in the field of politics, especially campaigns, because on social media information can spread quickly and the public can also channel their aspirations. For this advanced era, anyone who wants to get into politics must already understand the ins and outs of social media. Although it is undeniable that if political actors do not successfully campaign on social media, they will become a source of ridicule in the cyberspace or this virtual world. Anyone can campaign but use social media at full discretion, or it will cause problems for its users.

Wicaksono Adil Pangestu, student of Communication Department - International Program, Universitas Islam Indonesia