PERTAMAX FUEL PRICE INCREASE AND PUBLIC CRITICISM: CONTENT ANALYSIS OF NETIZEN INTERACTIONS AND COMMENTS ON THE MINISTRY OF ESDM'S TIKTOK ACCOUNT
Abstract
This study examines the dynamics of crisis communication and forms of public resistance in cyber space in response to the Pertamax fuel price hike policy on June 10, 2026. Given the shift of the critique arena from physical spaces to the realm of digital media convergence, this study aims to analyze the textual-visual characteristics and netizen interactions on the official TikTok account of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (MEMR). A qualitative approach was employed using cyber media content analysis, with a purposive sampling technique applied to the top comments within two weeks post-policy implementation. The results indicate that the platform's algorithm facilitates collective delegitimization through various narrative typologies. Netizens do not merely voice spontaneous anger; instead, they utilize typographical parody, the inversion of visual symbol meanings (emoticons), sarcasm based on utopian conditionals regarding the minimum wage, and structural satire toward the accuracy of subsidy targeting. Furthermore, an anomaly was found in the form of counter-narratives and horizontal irony among netizens, sparking a battle of discourse concerning global geopolitics. These findings confirm that the public utilizes the comment section not only as a protest outlet but also as a space for citizen oversight and meaning negotiation. The contribution of this research is to provide a critical evaluative foundation for government agencies. Moving forward, the government needs to abandon rigid crisis communication patterns and design energy governance policy strategies that are more empathetic, transparent, and inclusive.
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