Digital Political Communication and Civic Learning: How YouTube Transforms Political Education and Democracy in Indonesia

Authors

  • Muhammad Alif Haikal UIN Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung
  • M Pasqa UIN Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung

Keywords:

Civic Education, Digital Democracy, Political Communication, Political Education, YouTube

Abstract

This study examines how Kaesang Pangarep's YouTube channel functions as an informal political education space for Indonesian youth. Employing directed content analysis supported by Python computational tools and the YouTube Data API, the research analyzes 45 videos and over 150,000 audience comments from September 2023 to June 2024. Data were coded using three analytical dimensions: strategic branding, educational function, and engagement. The findings demonstrate that Kaesang constructs an accessible political identity through humor and political education. The use of humor helps translate complex political issues into comprehensible narratives. Videos with humorous approaches achieve a viewer retention rate of 72%, significantly higher than conventional political videos, which average only 54%. Comment analysis reveals that audiences not only enjoy the content but also understand political issues and engage in meaningful discussions. The study concludes that YouTube can serve as an effective platform for political education, although it depends on engagement metrics that sometimes prioritize entertainment over depth of understanding.

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Published

2025-12-26

How to Cite

Haikal, M. A., & Pasqa, M. (2025). Digital Political Communication and Civic Learning: How YouTube Transforms Political Education and Democracy in Indonesia . Candidate: Jurnal Sains Politik, 3(2), 174–198. Retrieved from https://journal.uinsgd.ac.id/index.php/candidate/article/view/52729

Issue

Vol. 3 No. 2 (2025): Candidate : Jurnal Sains Politik

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Articles

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Copyright (c) 2025 Muhammad Alif Haikal, M Pasqa

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