The UGM PKM RSH (Social Humanities Research) team consisting of Fatimah, Syair, Fikri, and Bangkit researched the influence of social media use among youth, especially Indonesian students, on the spread of social issues about Palestine.
Syair as the team leader explained that this research used agenda setting theory by collecting related data from social institutions and research objects, namely students.
He said that the data was obtained from primary data and secondary data online. First, primary data comes from closed interviews and questionnaires distributed to students. Data collection from humanitarian agencies is carried out online through the Zoom meeting platform. Students who are the object of research live across Java and Sumatra because these islands have many universities. Second, secondary data is obtained from indirect observation, where researchers examined communication products such as literature studies of related journals and articles.
After obtaining the data, Syair et al. found that the use of social media differs from each platform, but most of its users are youth.
“The research concluded that youth are the main actors in the social media movement, either as disseminators or as recipients of information,” Syair said on Tuesday (21/9).
Syair et al. see that the development of social issues about Palestine is also spreading so rapidly on social media. In addition, they saw many responses from many countries including Indonesia due to the rapid spread of news through social media.
“For example, the President of Indonesia Joko Widodo stated the problems in Palestine are a result of Israel’s actions. Furthermore, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi took steps to urge the United Nations to resolve the issue between Palestine and Israel. There are also Indonesian public figures who are taking steps to help Palestine, such as raising funds that can be collected quickly in large amounts because news spreads quickly,” said Syair.
When viewed from the role of students, the results of the data obtained by Syair et al. show that the Palestinian issue is important for students. This is because students always want to keep updated about Palestine even though their involvement level is moderate.
Syair et al. argued that students have high levels of sensitivity as they feel concerned and even compelled to donate when they hear news about Palestine.
They argued that students have a high potential to help fight for Palestinian independence. The role of agenda setting is to influence sensitivity because an event will attract more people if packaged more attractively.
“In today’s digital world, where technology and social media are developing rapidly, students have a strategic role in disseminating information about Palestine. Students also have a role in strengthening Indonesia’s position in rejecting world colonialism by educating others. Regarding the dissemination of information, agenda setting plays a role in influencing the sensitivity of Indonesian students by spreading information repeatedly and massively,” said Syair.
