Yogyakarta, April 29, 2025 — A doctoral student from the Cultural and Media Studies Program at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) took part in an academic forum titled “Southeast Asia in the Frame of Digital Media and Social Activism,” organized by the Master’s Program in Communication Studies (MIKOM) at the Islamic University of Indonesia (UII). The event was held to officially launch the MIKOM UII program and to discuss the book Social Media and Politics in Southeast Asia, taking place in the Theatrical Room of UII’s GKU building.
The forum featured Prof. Merlyna Lim (Carleton University, Canada), who critically examined the role of digital media in mediating activism in Southeast Asia. She emphasized the importance of understanding digital space as a discursive arena loaded with political-economic interests, rather than merely a space of free expression. One concept she highlighted, “many clicks but little sticks,” illustrates the paradox between massive online support and minimal structural change.
Responding to the presentation, Prof. Masduki (MIKOM UII) discussed the dynamics of digital activism in Indonesia, including cases such as Gejayan Memanggil and discussion forums like Cik Di Tiro. He pointed out how digital activism is often rich in symbols but lacks continuity. “Digital media creates euphoria, but it does not always create a lasting movement structure,” he noted.
For the UGM doctoral student, the forum offered a valuable reflection on digital activism practices in Indonesia. “It helped me better understand the shifting forms of resistance in the era of algorithms and platform capitalism. This forum enriched my perspective for my dissertation research,” they shared.
The event also featured Prof. Subhan Afifi, who presented the vision of MIKOM UII, and was moderated by Dr. Zaki Habibi. The discussion ran interactively from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM and was attended by academics from various institutions.
Contributor: Isma Adila (Doctoral Student in Cultural and Media Studies)