By: Agus Abidin
The Regional Head Election is in sight. The public and political elite are also advised not to use SARA politics and be aware of the spread of hoaxes.
Entering the political year of the implementation of the General Election which was held simultaneously in September 2020, the tension of contestation will be increasingly felt.
The relatively short period of the campaign period which is only 71 days to save budget and reduce tensions in the community on the one hand becomes an arena and opportunity for prospective regional leaders to be able to socialize ideas and programs that become the vision and mission in developing their regions to the community.
On the other hand, the short period of the campaign is also a challenge for election organizers and monitors as well as elements such as the Police.
Crucial issues that deserve attention in the election event are money politicization, sara politicization and hoax news. All three can be used as variables to measure the high and low integrity of the democratic process through direct elections, but the most real and frequent threat to the peace of holding an election is hoax news.
Hoax news is hoax news. It’s not enough to lie. Hoax is a lie with malicious deception. Deliver and disseminate news that is not in accordance with the facts. So, the facts are there but not delivered according to reality.
It can also be understood as spreading news that even the facts do not exist. To win a competition sometimes this way is done. Impacts of hoax news include the fall of a candidate’s name and self-esteem. It can also have a long tail causing unrest in the community.
In the moment of simultaneous elections there must be an agreement from all parties to be able to run and oversee the elections so that it runs conductively.
Starting from initiating friendship with prospective stakeholders and the community in building an agreement (consensus) to minimize the potential for democratic pathology, especially hoax news.
Political consensus becomes very urgent to see the potential for friction during the election period cannot be ruled out.
The most basic sociological political consensus is a commitment to reject hoax news, because it has the potential to cause divisions in society. The lightest news effect of hoaxes, which is disturbing the public and the most severe, is what causes traumatic for its victims.
News hoaxes can trigger the emergence of distrust (prejudice and distrust) of the results of the elections which will eventually become a new sheet of conflict in society.
Besides political consensus, there are a number of things that can be done against hoax news.
First, spread positive content.
Second, it is not affected by provocative news headlines.
Third, verify or report news content that is allegedly a hoax on portals that specialize in hoax news.
Fourth, educating yourself and the public to know digital literacy and understand the dangers of hoaxes.
Fifth, do not hesitate to report the perpetrators of the spread of hoaxes which could lead to social conflict in the authorities.
