Indonesia Presidential Candidates Battle It Out on TikTok, According to Reuters

By Stanley Widianto

JAKARTA – At a presidential campaign event in Indonesia, 22-year-old voter Irene Putri Aisyah was immersed in uploading a variety of sights from the event—everything from charming dance routines to cooking demonstrations—on TikTok, the popular short video app.

In an effort to engage young voters like Irene, all three candidates vying in the race for leadership on February 14 have embraced TikTok, which boasts 125 million users in Indonesia, making it one of the platform’s most significant markets globally, trailing only the United States.

However, experts caution that the platform is inundated with misleading content aimed at swaying young voters, who comprise over half of the approximately 205 million registered voters in the nation.

In this new online battlefield, Prabowo Subianto, a figure previously known for his military background, has redefined his image as an approachable statesman. His clumsy dance moves, reminiscent of traditional martial arts, have garnered millions of views and inspired countless imitations.

During a recent televised debate, when Prabowo faced sharp criticisms from his opponents, female supporters shared emotional videos expressing their support for him.

Rivals Anies Baswedan and Ganjar Pranowo have also boosted their TikTok activity, engaging in real-time Q&A sessions during live streams and sharing heartfelt interactions with potential voters.

"TikTok is particularly appealing for first-time voters, making it a crucial platform for campaigning and disseminating election-related information," remarked Anita Wahid, a researcher who has explored themes of online trust and safety in collaboration with TikTok.

ENDURING POPULARITY

A recent survey by Indikator Politik Indonesia revealed that during the campaign, TikTok emerged as the second-most significant source of political information for Indonesians, just behind television.

"We can easily find information about Prabowo on TikTok," Irene noted.

Nevertheless, experts have pointed out that some of the information circulating may be inaccurate.

Endah Triastuti, a communications researcher at the University of Indonesia, highlighted that misleading content may leave many young voters unaware of Prabowo’s need to refute allegations concerning human rights abuses from his past as a special forces commander.

Manipulated images and "deepfake" videos featuring the candidates have also become widespread.

TikTok has pledged to address "harmful misinformation" by collaborating with fact-checkers to flag or debunk false content, while political ads and fundraising are strictly prohibited on the platform.

A TikTok spokesperson emphasized, "We prioritize protecting the integrity of elections on our platform so that our community can continue to enjoy creative and entertaining TikTok experiences.”

Young voters’ preference for lighthearted and enjoyable content from candidates illustrates TikTok’s sustained appeal and influence during this election cycle, according to researcher Anita Wahid.

"This is a new battle."