What the study found
The study found that social media played a role in shaping the dynamics of the August 2025 Indonesian demonstrations. It facilitated decentralized mobilization and helped turn fragmented grievances into more cohesive reform agendas.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors conclude that the study offers a novel theoretical lens for understanding how digital platforms and political contention interact in emerging democracies. They also say the findings show how framing and agenda-setting intersect within hybrid media ecologies, amplifying protest legitimacy and exposing fragile democratic accountability.
What the researchers tested
The researchers used content analysis and cross-media comparison to study the demonstrations. They examined how activists, labor unions, religious organizations, and citizens used diagnostic, prognostic, and motivational frames, and how hashtags such as #BubarkanDPR, #PotongPrivilege, #JusticeForAffan, and #SaveDemocracy worked as agenda-setting devices.
What worked and what didn't
According to the findings, social media helped organize decentralized mobilization and encouraged pressure on mainstream media and government institutions. The abstract does not report any strategy that clearly failed or any negative cases.
What to keep in mind
The abstract does not describe specific limitations. The summary provided here is limited to the August 2025 Indonesian demonstrations and the groups and hashtags named in the abstract.
Key points
- Social media helped decentralize mobilization during the August 2025 Indonesian demonstrations.
- Fragmented grievances were transformed into more cohesive reform agendas.
- Mainstream media and government institutions were pressured to respond.
- The study analyzed framing theory and agenda-setting theory together.
- Hashtags functioned as agenda-setting devices in the protests.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- Social media helped shape Indonesian protest agendas
- Authors:
- Abdurrahman Abdurrahman
- Institutions:
- Bandung Institute of Technology
- Publication date:
- 2026-03-06
- OpenAlex record:
- View
Get the weekly research newsletter
Stay current with peer-reviewed research without reading academic papers — one filtered digest, every Friday.

