Jakarta (Antara Bali) - Social media channels, such as Facebook and Twitter, serve as an
effective means of political education, political observer Muradi of
the Bandung-based University of Padjadjaran said.
"The phenomenon of the social media, particularly with regard to
the presidential election, is quite interesting. There is an
extraordinary dynamism, where by users of this medium discuss or debate
about political issues," Muradi said when contacted from here on
Wednesday.
However, he said many users did not clarify news items or
information they received from social media channels. This has become a
problem in the cyber world.
"Probably only about 30 percent sought clarifications or checked
and rechecked the news or information they received," the political
observer added.
He said most of the social media users belonged to people from the middle class and were well-informed.
"They control information on the social media and have access to it
24 hours. Therefore, they have to be critical and analyze the
superiority and shortcomings of the presidential candidates
proportionally," he added.
He stated that all discussions and debates raised on social media
will not benefit candidates who were competing. The party who is
enjoying the benefit is the social media users, who receive information
from the candidates.
Social media has become one of the mediums used by candidates to
launch their campaigns for the presidential election on July 9, 2014,
Muradi asserted.
Campaigns are being launched not only by the success teams of the
presidential candidates but also by their supporters and sympathizers
who are active on social media.
However, campaigns conducted through social media are not free from
malicious or black campaigns, because it is often used to attack a
candidates personality from the point of view of religion, ethnic
origins, race and groups.
Currently, there are two presidential and vice presidential
candidate pairs, Joko Widodo-Jusuf Kalla and the Prabowo-Hatta Rajasa,
who will contest in the July 9 presidential election.
The Joko Widodo-Jusuf Kalla duo is supported by the Indonesian
Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), the National Democrat Party
(Nasdem), the National Awakening Party (PKB), and the Peoples Conscience
Party (Hanura) with 207 seats or 36.96 percent of the House of
Representatives (DPR)s 560 seats.
The Prabowo-Hatta duo is supported by the Greater Indonesia
Movement (Gerindra), the Golkar Party, the National Mandate Party, the
Prosperous Justice Party, the United Development Party (PPP), and the
Crescent and Star Party (PBB) with 292 seats or 52.14 percent in the
parliament. (WDY)
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