While Australian authorities are handling the attack as a domestic security matter, its ripples extend well beyond national borders, particularly for countries like Indonesia that are deeply embedded in the global digital ecosystem.

For policymakers, the urgent question is not whether the Bondi tragedy will directly trigger an attack elsewhere, but whether such incidents increase the viral potential of copycat violence. In our hyperconnected reality, the strategic impact of a terrorist attack is never confined to its physical location.

As a former terrorist offender who now works as a social researcher, I recognized the pattern immediately.

Acts of violence are rapidly transformed into symbolic content online. Within hours, narratives emerge framing the attack not as a crime but as an ideological statement. Sympathizers, often unaffiliated with any formal group, reinterpret the bloodshed as legitimacy, resistance or proof of relevance.

This dynamic is best described as "inspirational terrorism". Unlike traditional models that rely on hierarchical organizations, this form of terror operates through exposure, repetition and emotional resonance. Individuals do not radicalize because they receive orders; they radicalize because they continuously engage with narratives that glorify violence.

For Indonesia, this presents a distinct policy challenge. Over the past decade, the country has made significant progress in dismantling organized terror networks. However, the primary risk has now shifted to self-radicalized individuals or small, loosely connected cells inspired by global events rather than directed by global organizations.