Social Media in the Constituent Interaction and Mobility (Case Study in the 2017 Jakarta-Indonesia Governor General Election Campaign)
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Journal of Theoretical and Applied Information Technology 31st July 2019. Vol.97. No 14 © 2005 – ongoing JATIT & LLS ISSN: 1992-8645 www.jatit.org E-ISSN: 1817-3195 SOCIAL MEDIA IN THE CONSTITUENT INTERACTION AND MOBILITY (CASE STUDY IN THE 2017 JAKARTA-INDONESIA GOVERNOR GENERAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN) 1 YUNILA LARAS ISMAWANI, 2 LA MANI, 3 MUHAMMAD ARAS 1Communication Department, BINUS Graduate Program, Master of Strategic Marketing Communications, Bina Nusantara University Jakarta, Indonesia 11480 2Communication Department, BINUS Graduate Program, Master of Strategic Marketing Communications, Bina Nusantara University Jakarta, Indonesia 11480 3Communication Department, BINUS Graduate Program, Master of Strategic Marketing Communications, Bina Nusantara University Jakarta, Indonesia 11480 E-mail: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] ABSTRACT The use of social media in general election campaign in Indonesia becomes more common but the relationship between social media existence in political campaign and the final vote result still need to be scrutinized. Therefore this study aims to analyze with a systematic and empirical approach of the social media usage (Including Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram) by DKI Jakarta governor candidates for the 2017-2022 period. Based on the observations, we found that each DKI Jakarta governor candidate has had a popular social media account in Indonesia, namely Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Such media were used to in conducting political campaigns and interacting with their constituents. Based on in-depth analysis of the empirical data showed that the presence of social media in the political campaigns in Indonesia had a strong relationship with the final results of DKI Jakarta governor election. Relationship between the results of the general election and the popularity, participation, and activeness of candidates in using social media were shown not only in interaction quantity but also in quality of the political campaign contents. Furthermore social media popularity of the political parties which supported the candidates allegedly had a relationship with 2017 DKI Jakarta governor election results. Keywords: Social Media, Constituents, Iinteraction and Mobility, Political Campaigns, General Election 1. INTRODUCTION vote for a candidate, and judgments about a candidate’s likelihood of garnering the nomination Before the 20th century, when television and (Ross, 1992). Print media, radio, and television internet yet in widespread use as a medium of were able to maintain their existence in long time so information dissemination, print media and radio that their role in political campaign development in had become popular media in conveying the all countries in the world couldnot be minimized. message or information, including a political Entering the digital era in the 21st century, message to the public. At that time, more political internet technology development around the world campaigns were carried out in the direct speeches, had brought about significant changes in all aspects radio channels, print media such as newspapers and of life. Every year the internet usage and users magazines. Nevertheless at the beginning of the become more increasing along with the breadth of 20th century, the development of television had the Internet network infrastructure and convenience shifted slightly the existence of print media for in obtaining digital devices. No exception to political campaign, especially in developed Indonesian itself, the use of internet and social countries. Television then able to provide a large media had become a trend and an inseparable part effect on the mass public’s assessment of a of daily communication. Based on the survey candidate’s attractiveness, people’s willingness to 3833 Journal of Theoretical and Applied Information Technology 31st July 2019. Vol.97. No 14 © 2005 – ongoing JATIT & LLS ISSN: 1992-8645 www.jatit.org E-ISSN: 1817-3195 conducted by the Association of Indonesian Internet technology development and the use of social Service Provider in 2017, the number of internet media has not been widespread use like nowadays. users in Indonesia had reached 143,26 million or The candidate presidents were not in a structured 54,68% of the total population, an increase of way to utilize social media in their political 7,96% from 2016 (Kompas.com, 2018). Indonesia campaigns. Nevertheless along with the rapid use of became the fifth largest internet user in the world. social media in Indonesia, especially in DKI Jakarta According to research conducted by We Are Social as the capital city of Indonesia, had stimulated the and Hootsuite, out of 265,4 million Indonesians, authors to observe the activities and existence of 130 million were active users of social media, with online political communication of DKI Jakarta the top positions dominated by Youtube, Facebook, governor candidate for the 2017-2022 period. This WhatsApp, Instagram, and Line (KompasTekno, study aims to find out whether there is relationship 2018). In the political field, the use of Internet as a between the use of social media in a political new media of political communication and communication strategy and the results of a final campaign became very popular (Aparaschivei, vote that leads one of the candidates as the winner 2011). David Perlmutter (2008) identified that in the general election. This study focuses on all online political campaign had been started since online communications related to posts or political 1992 by Bill Clinton who was then followed by campaign, a series of strategies, the characteristics political parties, other candidates, and the electoral of the candidates' social media, and communication success teams. mistakes of the candidates on the Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram platform. Along with the increasingly social media popularity, political parties, political public 2. LITERATURE REVIEW relations, electoral success teams, and politicians themselves had upgraded their campaign strategy Some researches related to the use of from that originally only based offline, such as the social media in election campaign and mass installation of banners, campaign speeches, and the political participation began much done, such as leaflets to the public, evolved into the online basis, research by Aparaschivei (2011) which found that such as through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, there was no positive relationship between the Youtube, etc. Indonesia with a very diverse and political campaigns of the candidates on social segregated population of islands looked at the media with the final result of presidential election. existence of social media as an effective means of Nonetheless there were interesting findings in the political communication and election campaign. For study in which there is a positive relationship example, we took a case study in the 2017 DKI between the existence of a candidate on certain Jakarta governor election. DKI Jakarta was spread social media platform compared to other candidates into 6 regions, namely North Jakarta, West Jakarta, against the results of the vote. Furthermore, positive Central Jakarta, South Jakarta, East Jakarta, and content or post of a candidate could lead obtaining Kepulauan Seribu. DKI Jakarta governor candidates superior sound result in some areas of general used social media as massive communication elections. The results of the study could not be channel to socialize themself and their programs. summed up in general, given the research of The question arised whether the existence of online Aparaschivei was carried out during the Romanian political communication and campaign through presidential election in 2009 in which the social media from candidates, who took a part in the candidates and the success teams had not used general election, had capability or not to mobilize social media for a structured and massive political their constituents so that they met the expected campaign. votes and victory of the election. Aparaschivei (2011) conducted research related Along with the development of internet to the use of social media in the Romania technology and social media diversification, online presidential campaign in 2009. The results indicated media’s role as an indicator of political behavior of that there were no positive relationship between the the people is very interesting to measure. The real vote result of a president candidates with their research of DiGrazia, et al. (2013) concluded that political communication strategy through social the number of responses to a candidate’s tweet media. This research was conducted at the time of compared to other candidates on social media such the Romania presidential election in 2009 which as Twitter could statistically be used as an indicator was the first year of social media use for election of the vote acquisition in general election. campaigns in Romania. On the other hand, internet Therefore social media could be used as an 3834 Journal of Theoretical and Applied Information Technology 31st July 2019. Vol.97. No 14 © 2005 – ongoing JATIT & LLS ISSN: 1992-8645 www.jatit.org E-ISSN: 1817-3195 alternative means to measure public behavior and political discussions (88% of respondents never attitude in determining their political choice. read or forwarded emails related to political contents). Furthermore, based on this survey it was 2.1 Social Media in Democracy known that the use of blogs, reading online news related to politics, and sending emails with political