From Jakarta to Makassar, civil servants died, government buildings burned and mobs ransacked the homes of public officials.

President Prabowo Subianto mobilized the Indonesian Military (TNI), police were told to “act decisively”. Meanwhile, Indonesians at home, and increasingly abroad, were scrolling, posting and debating, turning social media into the most immediate barometer of the country’s unrest.

Social media is democratizing civic participation. Ordinary Indonesians can share views, scrutinize official actions and organize offline events. Diaspora communities, from Europe to the United States to Australia, are weighing in too. Their commentary carries credibility because they are seen as politically detached yet informed.

In this digital arena, anyone with a smartphone can fact-check official statements, amplify marginalized voices or challenge narratives that traditional media might miss. Social media has leveled the playing field, turning ordinary citizens and overseas observers into real-time influencers of public discourse.

Indonesia’s political leadership remains dominated by Gen X and Baby Boomers, while much of the unrest, online and offline, is driven by Millennials and Gen Z.

Viral memes, TikTok commentary and social media challenges are not trivial, they are cultural signals with real-world consequences.