In Curhat We Unite (and Divide)

Scalable Affective Sociality, Algorithmic Politics, and Social Media in Indonesia

Bibliographic Data

ID6428442
AuthorsMay Lim (0000-0002-1583-9920, corresponding author), Merlyna Lim
Year2025
Volume119
Issue1
Pages39-57
Publication date2025-04-01
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueIndonesia (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0019-7289 • E-ISSN: 2164-8654
PublisherProject MUSE (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1353/ind.2025.a961926
OpenAlexW4411216361
LanguageEN
Citations received1

This article explores the phenomenon of curhat , a form of emotional communication and expression in Indonesia, and how it has evolved into a critical method of political communication, profoundly shaping social media and political discourse in the country. By examining how curhat transitions from private expressions to public engagements within "scalable affective sociality," the study reveals the fluidity of this practice in shaping personal connections, social dynamics, and political communities. In Indonesia, curhat marks a shift from identity-driven politics to visibilitycentered politics, where collective visibility and interpersonal exchanges take precedence. The article highlights how curhat contributes to the virality of social media activism while being vulnerable to manipulation by political elites through "algorithmic politics," a form of politics that operates by strategically manipulating algorithms to dominate media spheres and shape public opinion. Ultimately, curhat has become a key element in political conversations, blending emotion with political mobilization. It redefines the affective landscape of Indonesian politics, influencing the quality and trajectory of political discourse and engagement

Biology · Cognitive science · Political science · Politics · Scalability · Social media · Sociality · Sociology · World Wide Web · Asian Studies and History · Computer Science · Ecology · Islamic Finance and Communication · Psychology

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