Constructing Student Political Participation in Safeguarding Democratic Integrity After the 2024 Elections
Keywords:
Democracy, Digital Citizenship, Digital Public Sphere, Instagram, Political Participation, Student ActivismAbstract
This study examines the dynamics of virtual public space through the construction of political participation among students of Sunan Gunung Djati State Islamic University Bandung in safeguarding democratic integrity after the 2024 General Election via Instagram. The post-election period has been marked by public debates concerning constitutional court decisions, political dynasties, and the neutrality of state institutions, which have stimulated digital political engagement among university students. Employing a qualitative descriptive approach with a case study design, this research collects data through in-depth interviews, digital observation of Instagram content, and documentation of political posts shared by students. The findings reveal that Instagram functions as a significant digital public sphere where students articulate political criticism, construct democratic discourse, and perform social control through features such as feeds, stories, and reels. Students’ political participation is primarily driven by idealistic motives rooted in intellectual responsibility, Islamic moral values, and collective solidarity within student organizations. Rather than being spontaneous or purely trend-driven, digital activism emerges as a reflective process shaped by academic background and social interaction. However, the study also identifies challenges, including limited audience reach, algorithmic filtering, and the risk of echo chambers that may constrain broader democratic deliberation. Despite these limitations, students perceive digital political participation as a meaningful contribution to maintaining democratic awareness and fostering critical discourse within Indonesia’s evolving virtual public sphere. This study recommends strengthening digital literacy to enhance the quality and substantive impact of student activism in digital democratic practices.
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