Ahead of the 2024 regional elections, Indonesian people must increase their awareness of hoaxes which are increasingly circulating in various media, especially social media. The phenomenon of spreading false information is not new in political contestation, but its impact is increasingly worrying as information and communication technology becomes more sophisticated. Hoaxes can damage the democratic order, mislead voters, and create polarization among people who should be united in their differences in political views.
Hoaxes in the context of regional elections are often spread by parties who have certain interests to discredit opposing candidates or raise the image of the candidates they support. This dirty strategy includes various forms, ranging from fake news that targets candidates’ personalities, manipulation of photos and videos, to baseless claims intended to raise doubt and distrust in the democratic process itself. In fact, a healthy and fair democratic process should be based on facts and rational arguments, not lies and manipulation.
In order to prevent the spread of hoax information ahead of the 2024 Simultaneous Regional Head Election (Pilkada), the Batang Police, Central Java has intensified cyber patrols on social media. Head of the Batang Police Criminal and Investigation Unit, AKP Imam Muhtadi, emphasized that this patrol was a manifestation of the National Police’s commitment to maintaining the integrity of the democratic process. Every result of the cyber patrol will be reported to the relevant leadership to determine whether the news contains false narratives or not.
The public is also asked to be smarter in responding to the issues circulating ahead of the 2024 regional elections in November. The public must be wise and not easily provoked by news that spreads freely, especially on social media. The head of the green community group in West Java, Didu Sardu, emphasized that the community must work together to alert each other if there is strange information circulating in their environment. Didu emphasized that it is important for people to remind each other, especially if the information circulating can cause division.
In the everyday environment, especially on social media, people must be wiser in interpreting all the information they receive. Don’t be easily taken in by unclear information and get carried away by making comments that ultimately give rise to debate. Social media can be a very dangerous source if people do not increase their knowledge, because they can easily be consumed by false issues that are spread and carried over into real life. One of the important pillars in society in preventing hoax news is Gen Z voters or the younger generation. They can be a bridge for the environment in providing valid information, because with their ability to master the internet, they can easily find out the truth of information circulating and provide their knowledge to the closest environment, including family.
Head of the Buleleng Diskominfosantik, Ketut Suwarmawan, emphasized that social media is like a double-edged sword. The public is expected to be wiser in using social media, especially when responding to information. Don’t just read the title and then immediately share the information. First confirm the truth, this is important to break the chain of spreading hoaxes which are consumed in chains by the public. As a form of prevention, his party has carried out various outreach activities to emphasize the importance of filtering before sharing. Apart from that, his party also publishes regularly via official social media channels regarding various hoax information circulating on social media.
Community figures and religious leaders also have a big influence in shaping public opinion and can be agents of change in fighting the spread of hoaxes. By providing the public with a correct understanding of the dangers of hoaxes and the importance of maintaining information integrity, these figures can help create a healthier and more conducive environment for the implementation of regional elections.
Individually, every citizen also has a responsibility not to participate in the spread of hoaxes. A critical attitude must be prioritized whenever receiving information, especially that which has the potential to cause chaos or riots. Verification through trusted sources, seeking information from various perspectives, and avoiding sharing information whose truth is unclear are concrete steps that can be taken.
The speed of information dissemination in the digital era is very high. A hoax can spread in minutes and cause significant damage before it can be corrected. Therefore, a quick and effective response from all parties is very necessary to minimize the negative impact. The authorities must immediately follow up on hoax reports with firm and appropriate action, while the public must be proactive in reporting any suspicious information.
Ahead of the 2024 regional elections, we all have an important role in maintaining the quality of democracy in Indonesia. Hoaxes are a common enemy that we must fight with intelligent and effective methods. By increasing digital literacy, strengthening regulations, and encouraging active community participation in fighting the spread of hoaxes, we can create cleaner, fairer and more democratic regional elections. Only in this way can we ensure that the people’s voice is truly represented and that the democratic process operates in accordance with the principles we uphold.