Public Perceptions And Protests On Instagram Regarding The Increase In Allowances For DPR Members In Makassar

Abstract

Social media has evolved into a digital public sphere that enables citizens to express opinions, criticism, and participation regarding government policies. One of the issues that has attracted widespread public attention is the policy on increasing the allowances of members of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR), which generated diverse public responses, particularly on Instagram. This study aims to analyze public perceptions of the increase in DPR allowances in Makassar and to identify the forms of public participation and protest expressed through Instagram.

This study employed a descriptive qualitative approach. Data were collected through digital observation, in-depth interviews, and documentation. Informants were selected using purposive sampling based on their involvement in discussions concerning the DPR allowance issue on Instagram. The collected data were analyzed using the interactive model of data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing.

The findings indicate that most participants expressed negative perceptions of the allowance increase policy, arguing that it was inconsistent with the current economic conditions experienced by the public. These perceptions were manifested through various forms of digital participation, including critical comments, content creation, hashtag campaigns, reposting information, and discussions in Instagram comment sections. The study also reveals that Instagram has developed beyond an information-sharing platform into a digital public sphere that facilitates public opinion formation and strengthens citizens' political participation in responding to government policies