Understanding the Indonesian mediapolis: The role of social media during the 2014 Indonesian presidential election

This article examines the role of social media during the 2014 Indonesian presidential election. It analyses how candidates used Facebook and Twitter and
how celebrities were enlisted to promote candidates to their fans. The coinciding
development of rapid internet literacy, together with the introduction of a direct
election system that appeals to identity- and celebrity-driven politics, came together to make social media a central part of Indonesian elections. This confluence has radically altered the conduct of campaigns. In order to explain this transformation, it is necessary to understand the nature of the Indonesian mediated public sphere, characterised by strong inter-media connections between social media and broadcast forms.