In an endeavor to appeal to the youthful demographic of Indonesia, the trio of contenders participating in the upcoming presidential election scheduled for Wednesday, February 14, are embracing TikTok as a platform for engaging with potential voters. Through the popular video-sharing app, they are sharing a variety of content, ranging from lively dance performances to interactive Q&A sessions conducted in real-time during live streamed events. TikTok boasts a massive user base of 125 million in Indonesia, positioning it as the second-largest market for the platform globally, following the United States.
At a recent campaign event for the Indonesian presidential race, 22-year-old voter Irene Putri Aisyah was actively documenting her experiences, capturing everything from charming dance routines to instructional cooking demonstrations, and uploading them to the platform.
However, experts caution that while TikTok serves as a pivotal arena for political engagement, it is also inundated with content that aims to influence young voters, who constitute a significant portion of the country's 205 million registered voters.
In this digital battleground, Prabowo Subianto, once regarded as a formidable military figure, has adopted a more approachable persona, showcasing his lighter side through videos featuring his somewhat awkward dance moves reminiscent of local martial arts. These videos have garnered millions of views, inspiring emulation from others.
In response to criticisms leveled against him during televised debates, Prabowo's female supporters took to TikTok to express their solidarity, sharing videos of themselves shedding tears on his behalf.
Likewise, Prabowo's rivals, Anies Baswedan, and Ganjar Pranowo, have escalated their presence on the platform, engaging in real-time interactions with voters during live-streamed sessions and sharing heartfelt encounters through video content.
"TikTok is particularly appealing to first-time voters, making it a significant platform for disseminating election-related information and campaigning," noted Anita Wahid, a researcher who has collaborated with TikTok on initiatives related to online trust and safety.
Despite the platform's popularity during the campaign period, experts caution that misinformation may proliferate, potentially misleading young voters. Endah Triastuti, a communications researcher at the University of Indonesia, highlights concerns about the dissemination of inaccurate information, such as allegations of human rights abuses linked to Prabowo's past.
Additionally, manipulated images and 'deepfake' videos of the candidates have circulated widely, raising further concerns about the reliability of information disseminated through the platform.
TikTok, for its part, asserts its commitment to combating misinformation, citing its policies to remove harmful content and collaborate with fact-checkers to verify information. Political advertisements and fundraising activities are also prohibited on the platform.
"We prioritize safeguarding the integrity of elections on our platform to ensure that our community can continue to enjoy creative and entertaining TikTok experiences," stated a TikTok spokesperson in an email communication.
The preference among young voters for engaging and entertaining content underscores TikTok's enduring appeal and its significance in shaping the discourse surrounding this election, according to researcher Anita Wahid.
"This marks the dawn of a new era in political engagement."
