In 2010, people created Facebook pages to raise awareness about alleged crimes against humanity during the Arab Spring. The same happened in 2014 when Hong Kong activists voiced their concerns through X (formerly Twitter) during the Umbrella Movement, followed by the Anti-Extradition Law Amendment Bill Movement in 2019-2020. 

The use of social media in movements is nothing new, including in Indonesia. These days, social media has become one of the key factors in supporting youth activism.

2019 - #ReformasiDikorupsi (Corrupted Reform) movement

In September 2019, tens of thousands protested against the revised KPK Law in Indonesia, which weakened the country’s Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK)—an independent agency established to fight corruption, Kompas reported. 

Demonstrators also opposed the Criminal Code Bill (RKUHP), Mining Bill, Correctional Bill, and Manpower Bill, while demanding the repeal of the revised KPK Law and Water Resources Law and the passage of a Sexual Violence Bill (RUU PKS) and Domestic Workers Protection Bill. They rejected problematic KPK leadership, opposed military and police appointments to civilian roles, and called for an end to militarisation in Papua as well as the release of political prisoners, and the decriminalisation of activism. 

Protesters further urged the government to punish corporations responsible for forest fires in Kalimantan and Sumatra and to address past human rights violations while restoring victims’ rights. 

As protests escalated, experts urged Indonesia's president at the time, Joko Widodo, to revoke the revised KPK Law through a Government Regulation in Lieu of Law (Perppu)—a legal mechanism that allows the President to bypass Parliament in urgent situations. 

Police brutality led to deaths in Kendari and mass arrests, including of journalists, according to LBH Jakarta. Despite initial promises, President Jokowi refused to issue a Perppu, citing judicial review, and remained optimistic about the law’s impact while promising future evaluation. 

According to the Indonesian Centre for Legal Studies and Policy, this movement was recalled as the peak public opposition to the legislative agenda of the parliament and the government after the 1998 Reform era. 

The hashtag #ReformasiDikorupsi was not only a symbol of the movement but also served as a tool on X - then Twitter - for sharing real-time updates during the protests such as reports of police arrests, missing persons, and other critical information.

2024 - #PeringatanDarurat (Emergency Warning) movement

In August 21 2024, social media in Indonesia was abuzz with an image of the Garuda—the country’s national emblem—coloured deep blue, accompanied by the words "emergency warning" and a matching hashtag. 

A post, taken from a YouTube video by EAS Indonesia Concept went viral and was a response to several Constitutional Court rulings that could reshape the political landscape ahead of the Regional Elections. One of the key rulings at the time changed the age requirement for regional head candidates, making it valid from the date of nomination rather than inauguration, as reported by Kompas.

Public concern grew over fears that this decision was designed to benefit Kaesang Pangarep, the son of then-President Joko Widodo, enabling him to run for office in Central Java and, in turn, strengthening the nation’s political oligarchy. 

After #PeringatanDarurat went viral—Kompas reported that the hashtag had been used 231,000 in a single day— and the public took to the streets, beginning with a peaceful demonstration to protest the Constitutional Court’s ruling. 

In addition to the simulated emergency alert, the hashtag #KawalPutusanMK (safeguard the Constitutional Court ruling) also gained widespread attention online. By August 22 last year over 1.6mn posts featuring this phrase had been shared on X. 

Meanwhile, civil society organisations leveraged social media to highlight concerns over the House of Representatives’ attempts to undermine the Constitutional Court’s decision, Jakarta Post reported. 

The demonstrations, led by students alongside various community groups, successfully prevented the revision of the Regional Elections Law. This was seen as a small victory in the ongoing struggle to uphold Indonesia’s democratic system.

2025 - #IndonesiaGelap (Dark Indonesia) movement

Moving towards the administration of former military general Prabowo Subianto, the new president has sparked controversy, particularly over his decision to cut budgets in key sectors, including healthcare, education, and public works. 

These policies inspired the public to rally behind the hashtag #IndonesiaGelap during a five-day series of protests. The demonstrations on February 20, marked a nationwide mass action, following earlier protests led by the All-Indonesian Student Executive Board (BEM SI) in various regions, including Jakarta, Bandung, Lampung, Surabaya, Malang, Samarinda, Banjarmasin, Aceh, and Bali, Tempo reported. Throughout the week, more than 70,000 posts on X used the hashtag #IndonesiaGelap. 

The BEM SI alliance organised these protests to express deep concern and frustration over government policies under President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka. Many believe that the country’s situation has become increasingly bleak due to their policies. The demonstration concluded with the Minister of State Secretariat signing a draft containing 13 public demands, signifying the government’s acknowledgment and acceptance of the issues raised. 

Additionally, the BBC reported that protests also took place in Papua, where students across the region opposed the Free School Meals programme—one of the flagship policies from the Prabowo-Gibran campaign—and instead demanded accessible, free education.

#KaburAjaDulu (Let’s run away first)

Amidst the surge of resistance hashtags, a segment of Indonesians who felt disadvantaged by government policies expressed their frustration through #KaburAjaDulu. This hashtag reflected their desire to seek better opportunities abroad, Kompas reported. 

Started at the beginning of 2025 on X, the #KaburAjaDulu trend soon became linked to issues within Indonesia’s education system, including high tuition fees, limited job opportunities, and low monthly wages. Social media users even used the hashtag to share information on studying or working abroad as a way to "escape" the country.

X Algorithm tweak vs. Indonesia's exception

Globally, X has seen a decline in relevance, especially after Elon Musk revealed plans for an upcoming update to the platform’s algorithm in January 2025, intending to prioritise content that is both engaging and informative. The adjustment is designed to tackle the problem of harmful or unproductive posts, as reported by The Economic Times. 

However, Indonesia appears to be an exception. 

Hashtags remain a powerful tool for activism and political engagement, as seen in movements like #ReformasiDikorupsi, #PeringatanDarurat, and #IndonesiaGelap. While other countries seem to be moving away from X as a tool for organising protests, Indonesians continue to use the platform to mobilise, share critical information, and influence political discourse.