The Public Opinion Pressure on Instagram in Protests Against Unpopular Public Policies and Unfair Law Enforcement in Indonesia

Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

^* Corresponding author: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Abstract

This article examines how public opinion on Instagram pressures the government during protests against unpopular public policies and unfair law enforcement in Indonesia. It conceptualizes Instagram as a space for digital public participation in policymaking and in promoting a justice system aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals on law and governance. As a platform for digital activism, Instagram enables rapid, transparent, and accountable public evaluation of policies and legal processes. The study applies Robert N. Entman’s framing analysis, focusing on problem definition, causal interpretation, moral evaluation, and treatment recommendation. The data were drawn from selected Instagram accounts of mass media outlets, community organizations, and public figures whose content criticized unjust public policies and inequitable law enforcement. The findings show that public opinion on Instagram can pressure the government to respond quickly to political and legal issues. Digital activism criticized unethical legislators and challenged the criminal court ruling against Ira Puspadewi, which many users viewed as unjust and legally unsound. The movement popularized through the slogan “No Viral, No Justice,” amplified by influencers, affected both the President and the House of Representatives. In response, the House rejected a proposed increase in members’ allowances and sanctioned legislators who violated ethical standards. In Ira Puspadewi’s case, public pressure preceded presidential rehabilitation after five days of viral attention.