Rumah Pemilu Indonesia Election Portal
Gajah Mada University (UGM) political science lecturer, Arga Pribadi Imawan, said there were five popular hashtags during the 2024 election campaign. First, the hashtag #AsalNotPrabowo. Through this hashtag, a narrative that leads voters not to vote for candidate pair (paslon) serial number 02 is built. The narrative often presents evidence and data regarding the bad things done by presidential candidate number 2, Prabowo Subianto, in the past. The hashtag #AsalNotPrabowo is popular on social media platforms X and TikTok.
“This is a hashtag that targets candidate pair number 02. The hashtag that criticizes candidate pair 02 is often used. There is candidate pair number 3 who uses that hashtag. Candidate candidate number 01 also used that, cornering candidate pair 02,” said Arga in the discussion “Portrait of Information Disturbances in the 2024 Election and Its Potential in the 2024 Simultaneous Regional Elections” on Tuesday (11/6).
The second popular hashtag is #HaramConstitutionChildren. This hashtag emerged as a response to the candidacy of Gibran Rakabuming Raka following the decision of the Constitutional Court (MK). MK Decision No. 90/PUU-XXI/2023 allows Indonesian citizens who are not yet 40 years old but who have served or are currently serving as regional heads or other positions elected in general elections to nominate as vice presidential candidates. The presence of Gibran’s uncle, Anwar Usman, as one of the Constitutional Court judges is considered to be a factor in the issuance of the Constitutional Court’s decision, which smooths Gibran’s steps in the 2024 Presidential Election.
Next, namely, the hashtag #RejectAnies. This hashtag depicts presidential candidate number 1, who was once governor of DKI Jakarta, as a failed figure. It is said that Anies did not complete many of the programs he promised at DKI Jakarta.
“That Anies left some work unfinished.” Several narratives also contain content that vilifies Anies, and content was also found in traitor narratives,” said Arga.
The hashtag #NazarPemilu is also popular on social media. This hashtag is used by supporters of the three candidate pairs. Netizens use the hashtag #NazarPemilu to convey netizens’ promises if the candidate they support wins or the candidate they don’t like loses.
Another popular hashtag is #LetHimCook. Unlike the hashtag #RejectAnies, this hashtag has a positive narrative towards Anies. Through this hashtag, Anies’ supporters explain data regarding Anies’ track record and achievements.
#GanjarWadas is the sixth-most popular hashtag. This hashtag was created to build a narrative that presidential candidate number 3, Ganjar Pranowo, has a bad track record in land dispute cases in Wadas Village, Bener District, Purworejo Regency, Central Java. Arga said that the information conveyed in #GanjarWadas is not all facts.
“Unfortunately, the information shared on TikTok does not fully discuss Ganjar and Wadas correctly. “Disinformation is widely spread in this hashtag,” he concluded.
According to Arga, hashtags have become one of the keys to mass mobilization and changing voter behavior through social media. Hashtags are built to popularize certain narratives, which netizens apparently like. []
