Melampaui ‘Literasi Digital’: Kelindan Teknokapitalisme, Ideologi Media, dan Hiperhermeneutika

Abstract

Digital literacy is often proposed as a way to combat misinformation. However, the conception emphasizes individual competency. This conception is rooted in liberal assumption that places individual ethos as a public moral guardian. Left unanswered is the action taken by individuals itself and its meaning for them: what does it mean to spread misinformation? In the context of political misinformation, the inquiry goes further: what does it mean to engage in politics? To answer these questions, this paper attempts to move beyond digital literacy argument by investigating misinformation during Jakarta 2017 Election. Based on practice theory and theory on Indonesian politics, it focuses on the architectural configuration of the digital platform in which misinformation is spread, as well as the political culture that shapes such action. This paper attempts to refute the claims that misinformation is tied to religious populism and is inherently amplified by technological configuration. Ethnographic research with Twitter users informs this paper: participation-observation in six months conducted both online and offline. In-depth and informal interviews were also conducted. The research explores an urban middle class experience arguing against religious populism and are supporters of the then candidate Basuki T. Purnama (Ahok). This paper found that misinformation is spread by digitally literate people exactly to organize the muddle in Indonesian politics.