Indonesia’s love-hate relationship with social media

"Social Buzz": the number of times this article has been shared across major social media networks

Social media got the public talking about its influence and impact, and now, a high-powered political figure in the world’s most populous Muslim country has jumped on the bandwagon to promote the use of this powerful tool.

Indonesia is the world’s second largest market for Facebook and the third-largest for Twitter.

Yet, President Susilo is not a champion of the freedom of expression in the social media sphere. The ex-general has reportedly blamed the “Internet frenzy” for destroying traditional values, specifically by those who use online media to expose instances of deep corruption in the country.

While singing the praises of the power of social media tools, it appears that the Indonesian government is also wary of the accompanying impacts that these could bring. What is clear is the intent and the resolve to censor and to control, as the President and his ministers attempt to reap the benefits while minimizing the costs of these tools.

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