Addressing digital religious polarization: Policy analysis of religious moderation narratives on Indonesian government social media
- Authors
-
-
Ach Barocky ZaiminaUIN Kiai Haji Achmad Siddiq Jember, Indonesia
-
- Keywords
- religious moderation, post-truth, digital public sphere, participatory public diplomacy
- Abstract
This article examines how Indonesian state institutions construct and communicate narratives of religious moderation in a contested digital public sphere. Focusing on the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) and the National Counter-Terrorism Agency (BNPT), the study employs a descriptive qualitative design that integrates digital observation of official Instagram, X/Twitter, and YouTube accounts from January to December 2024, analysis of policy documents and institutional reports, and semi-structured interviews with policymakers and social-media administrators. Data are analysed through content and framing analysis, as well as interview-based thematic coding with triangulation. Findings indicate that state messaging is dominated by normative, declarative, and largely one-way communication, which is associated with weaker dialogic engagement and recurrent scepticism in comment spaces. By contrast, personal testimonies, lived-experience narratives, and non-patronising visual rhetoric receive more favourable reactions and lower resistance. Emotional appeal, contextual relevance, and a personal approach emerge as key determinants of constructive uptake, whereas limited responsiveness and broadcast-style posting amplify disengagement. The article links these reception patterns to post-truth dynamics and conceptualises monologic digital communication as a governance effect. It concludes that participatory public diplomacy, centred on co-creation with trusted intermediaries and institutionalised listening, provides an operational pathway to strengthen digital religious resilience.
- References
-
Abusharif, I. N. (2024). Religious Knowledge Production and Digital Affordances. Journal of Islamic and Muslim Studies, 9(1), 108–114. https://doi.org/10.2979/jims.00030 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2979/jims.00030
Ahen, F. (2019). Futures of new post-truth: New research frontiers on disturbingly fascinating pathologies affecting information dissemination and knowledge production. Foresight, 21(5), 563–581. https://doi.org/10.1108/FS-10-2018-0088 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/FS-10-2018-0088
Ajjawi, R., & Boud, D. (2018). Examining the nature and effects of feedback dialogue. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, 43(7), 1106–1119. https://doi.org/10.1080/02602938.2018.1434128 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/02602938.2018.1434128
Al-Zaman, M. S., & Alimi, M. Y. (2021). Islam, Religious Confrontation and Hoaxes in the Digital Public Sphere: Comparison of Bangladesh and Indonesia. Komunitas, 13(2), 206–233. https://doi.org/10.15294/komunitas.v13i2.27223 DOI: https://doi.org/10.15294/komunitas.v13i2.27223
Anderson, J. W. (2003). New Media, New Publics: Reconfiguring the Public Sphere of Islam. Social Research: An International Quarterly, 70(3), 887–906. https://doi.org/10.1353/sor.2003.0051 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1353/sor.2003.0051
Andok, M. (2024). The Impact of Online Media on Religious Authority. Religions, 15(9). https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15091103 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15091103
Arenggoasih, W., & Wijayanti, C. R. (2020). Pesan Kementerian Agama dalam moderasi melalui media sosial Instagram. Jurnal Jurnalisa, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.24252/jurnalisa.v6i1.13783
Arifah, I. D. C., Maureen, I. Y., Rofik, A., Puspila, N. K. W., Erifiawan, H., & Mariyamidayati. (2025). Social Media Platforms in Managing Polarization, Echo Chambers, and Misinformation Risk in Interreligious Dialogue among Young Generation. https://doi.org/10.1163/29502683-bja00011 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1163/29502683-bja00011
Ayu, A. M., Shabirah, S., & Putri, A. A. (2025). Penggunaan media sosial instagram sebagai sarana promosi program derakalisasi oleh BNPT di indonesia. Jurnal Netnografi Komunikasi, 4(2), 154–167. https://doi.org/10.59408/jnk.v4i2.120 DOI: https://doi.org/10.59408/jnk.v4i2.120
Barylo, W. (2017). Young Muslim Change-Makers: Grassroots Charities Rethinking Modern Societies (1st ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315166995 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315166995-1
Beausoleil, E. (2021). Listening obliquely: Listening as norm and strategy for structural justice. Contemporary Political Theory, 20(1), 23–47. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41296-020-00405-5 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/s41296-020-00405-5
Benson, R. (2009). Shaping the Public Sphere: Habermas and Beyond. The American Sociologist, 40(3), 175–197. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12108-009-9071-4 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12108-009-9071-4
Bjola, C., Cassidy, J., & Manor, I. (2019). Public Diplomacy in the Digital Age. The Hague Journal of Diplomacy, 14(1–2), 83–101. https://doi.org/10.1163/1871191X-14011032 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1163/1871191X-14011032
Bohman, J. (2004). Expanding Dialogue: The Internet, the Public Sphere and Prospects for Transnational Democracy. The Sociological Review, 52(1_suppl), 131–155. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-954X.2004.00477.x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-954X.2004.00477.x
Brantner, C., Rodriguez-Amat, J., & Belinskaya, Y. (2021). Structures of the public sphere: Contested spaces as assembled interfaces. Media and Communication, 9(3), 16–27. https://doi.org/10.17645/mac.v9i3.3932 DOI: https://doi.org/10.17645/mac.v9i3.3932
Chadwick, A., & Stanyer, J. (2022). Deception as a Bridging Concept in the Study of Disinformation, Misinformation, and Misperceptions: Toward a Holistic Framework. Communication Theory, 32(1), 1–24. https://doi.org/10.1093/ct/qtab019 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/ct/qtab019
Ciancio, G. (2024). Cultural policy and emotional clusters in the context of an organic crisis. Performing arts and emotions between top-down and bottom-up negotiations. European Journal of Cultural Management and Policy, 14, 13013. https://doi.org/10.3389/ejcmp.2024.13013 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/ejcmp.2024.13013
Cowan, G., & Arsenault, A. (2008). Moving from Monologue to Dialogue to Collaboration: The Three Layers of Public Diplomacy. The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 616(1), 10–30. https://doi.org/10.1177/0002716207311863 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0002716207311863
Danisworo, T. G., Rahmatunissa, M., & Paskarina, C. (2024). Religious Moderation in Indonesia: Navigating Conflict and Pluralism through Agonistic Democracy. MUHARRIK: Jurnal Dakwah Dan Sosial, 7(2), 183–203. https://doi.org/10.37680/muharrik.v7i2.5625 DOI: https://doi.org/10.37680/muharrik.v7i2.5625
Dawson, P. (2020). Hashtag narrative: Emergent storytelling and affective publics in the digital age. International Journal of Cultural Studies, 23(6), 968–983. https://doi.org/10.1177/1367877920921417 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1367877920921417
Dean, A. J., Fielding, K. S., & Wilson, K. A. (2019). Building community support for coastal management—What types of messages are most effective? Environmental Science & Policy, 92, 161–169. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2018.11.026 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2018.11.026
Di Martino, L. (2020). Conceptualising public diplomacy listening on social media. Place Branding and Public Diplomacy, 16(2), 131–142. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41254-019-00135-5 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/s41254-019-00135-5
Duncombe, C. (2020). Social media and the visibility of horrific violence. International Affairs, 96(3), 609–629. https://doi.org/10.1093/ia/iiaa055 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/ia/iiaa055
Fadlallah, R., El-Jardali, F., Nomier, M., Hemadi, N., Arif, K., Langlois, E. V., & Akl, E. A. (2019). Using narratives to impact health policy-making: A systematic review. Health Research Policy and Systems, 17(1), 26. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12961-019-0423-4 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12961-019-0423-4
Fisher, J. A. (2025). What We Talk About When We Talk About Insights from Interactive Digital Narratives. In M. C. Reyes & F. Nack (Eds.), Interactive Storytelling (pp. 70–80). Springer Nature Switzerland. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-12408-1_5 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-12408-1_5
Foderaro, A., & Lorentzen, D. G. (2024). Traditional, dialogical and complex scholarly communication: Towards a renewed trust in science. Journal of Documentation, 80(6), 1313–1332. https://doi.org/10.1108/JD-12-2023-0252 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/JD-12-2023-0252
Fredman, S. (2020). Tolerating the Intolerant: Religious Freedom, Complicity, and the Right to Equality. Oxford Journal of Law and Religion, 9(2), 305–328. https://doi.org/10.1093/ojlr/rwaa017 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/ojlr/rwaa017
Gago, M. (2025). The power of storytelling: How to create narratives that move audiences to action. Journal of Brand Strategy, 14(1), 6–14. https://doi.org/10.69554/YRHL3067 DOI: https://doi.org/10.69554/YRHL3067
Graham, S. E. (2014). Emotion and Public Diplomacy: Dispositions in International Communications, Dialogue, and Persuasion1. International Studies Review, 16(4), 522–539. https://doi.org/10.1111/misr.12156 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/misr.12156
Gumuruh, A. R. (2023). Religious Moderation in The Context of Pancasila: A Study of Role and The Impact is Deep Maintaining Social Harmony. Islamika Inside: Jurnal Keislaman Dan Humaniora, 9(1), 1–19. https://doi.org/10.35719/islamikainside.v9i1.243 DOI: https://doi.org/10.35719/islamikainside.v9i1.243
Hadiyanto, A., Putri, K. Y. S., & Fazli, L. (2025). Religious moderation in Instagram: An Islamic interpretation perspective. Heliyon, 11(4). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2025.e42816 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2025.e42816
Herrada-Lores, S., Palazón, M., Iniesta-Bonillo, M. Á., & Estrella-Ramón, A. (2024). The communication of sustainability on social media: The role of dialogical communication. Journal of Research in Interactive Marketing, 19(2), 307–332. https://doi.org/10.1108/JRIM-10-2023-0372 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/JRIM-10-2023-0372
Hibbert, P., Callagher, L., Siedlok, F., Windahl, C., & Kim, H. S. (2019). (Engaging or Avoiding) Change Through Reflexive Practices. Journal of Management Inquiry, 28(2), 187–203. https://doi.org/10.1177/1056492617718089 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1056492617718089
Hinck, R. S., Hawthorne, H., & Hawthorne, J. (2018). Authoritarians don’t deliberate: Cultivating deliberation and resisting authoritarian tools in an age of global nationalism. Journal of Deliberative Democracy, 14(2). https://doi.org/10.16997/jdd.310 DOI: https://doi.org/10.16997/jdd.310
Hughey, M. W., & Daniels, J. (2013). Racist comments at online news sites: A methodological dilemma for discourse analysis. Media, Culture & Society, 35(3), 332–347. https://doi.org/10.1177/0163443712472089 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0163443712472089
Kementerian Agama Indonesia. (2019). Moderasi Beragama (Cetakan pertama). Badan Litbang dan Diklat, Kementerian Agama RI.
KhosraviNik, M. (2022). Digital meaning-making across content and practice in social media critical discourse studies. Critical Discourse Studies, 19(2), 119–123. https://doi.org/10.1080/17405904.2020.1835683 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/17405904.2020.1835683
Koningstein, M., & Azadegan, S. (2021). Participatory video for two-way communication in research for development. Action Research, 19(2), 218–236. https://doi.org/10.1177/1476750318762032 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1476750318762032
Kretschmer, T., Leiponen, A., Schilling, M., & Vasudeva, G. (2022). Platform ecosystems as meta-organizations: Implications for platform strategies. Strategic Management Journal, 43(3), 405–424. https://doi.org/10.1002/smj.3250 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/smj.3250
Louder, E., & Wyborn, C. (2020). Biodiversity narratives: Stories of the evolving conservation landscape. Environmental Conservation, 47(4), 251–259. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0376892920000387 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0376892920000387
Mangone, E. (2022). Narratives and Social Change: Social Reality in Contemporary Society. Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-94565-7 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-94565-7
Matthes, J., & Kohring, M. (2008). The Content Analysis of Media Frames: Toward Improving Reliability and Validity. Journal of Communication, 58(2), 258–279. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1460-2466.2008.00384.x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1460-2466.2008.00384.x
Mazumdar, B. T. (2024). Digital diplomacy: Internet-based public diplomacy activities or novel forms of public engagement? Place Branding and Public Diplomacy, 20(1), 24–43. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41254-021-00208-4 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/s41254-021-00208-4
Miles, M. B., Huberman, A. M., & Saldana, J. (2013). Qualitative Data Analysis: A Methods Sourcebook. SAGE Publications.
Murphy, C., Carew, P. J., & Stapleton, L. (2024). A human-centred systems manifesto for smart digital immersion in Industry 5.0: A case study of cultural heritage. AI & SOCIETY, 39(5), 2401–2416. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00146-023-01693-2 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00146-023-01693-2
Ochoa, C. S., Gadinger, F., & Yildiz, T. (2021). Surveillance under dispute: Conceptualising narrative legitimation politics. European Journal of International Security, 6(2), 210–232. https://doi.org/10.1017/eis.2020.23 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/eis.2020.23
Octavianne, H., Suhariadi, F., Mudzakkir, M. F., Trianto, D., & Chamdan, U. (2024). Identity Politics and Polarization in Contemporary Muslim Countries: The Impact of Elections, Social Media, and Global Dynamics. MILRev: Metro Islamic Law Review, 3(2), 263–286. https://doi.org/10.32332/milrev.v3i2.9909 DOI: https://doi.org/10.32332/vfb0zc94
Pansoni, S., & Gistri, G. (2025). Does the end justify the means? The persuasive power of emotions in charity advertising: a systematic literature review. Italian Journal of Marketing, 2025(2), 91–130. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43039-025-00114-0 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s43039-025-00114-0
Rajadesingan, A., Duran, C., Resnick, P., & Budak, C. (2021). “Walking Into a Fire Hoping You Don’t Catch”: Strategies and Designs to Facilitate Cross-Partisan Online Discussions. Proc. ACM Hum.-Comput. Interact., 5(CSCW2), 393:1-393:30. https://doi.org/10.1145/3479537 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/3479537
Ratcliff, C. L., & Sun, Y. (2020). Overcoming Resistance Through Narratives: Findings from a Meta-Analytic Review. Human Communication Research, 46(4), 412–443. https://doi.org/10.1093/hcr/hqz017 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/hcr/hqz017
Rifki, L. R. R. (2025). Political of Religion in Digital Era: Analysis of Jean Baudrillard’s Thoughts. Jurnal Penelitian Keislaman, 21(1), 66–80. https://doi.org/10.20414/jpk.v21i1.12691 DOI: https://doi.org/10.20414/jpk.v21i1.12691
Rohid, N., Sugihartati, R., Suyanto, B., Susilo, D., & Zikri, A. (2025). Digital Activism in Contemporary Islamic Politics: A Critical Analysis of Social Media’s Impact on Islamic Movements. MILRev: Metro Islamic Law Review, 4(1), 208–233. https://doi.org/10.32332/milrev.v4i1.10159 DOI: https://doi.org/10.32332/milrev.v4i1.10159
Rose, J., & Sæbø, Ø. (2010). Designing Deliberation Systems. The Information Society, 26(3), 228–240. https://doi.org/10.1080/01972241003712298 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/01972241003712298
Sevignani, S. (2022). Digital Transformations and the Ideological Formation of the Public Sphere: Hegemonic, Populist, or Popular Communication? Theory, Culture & Society, 39(4), 91–109. https://doi.org/10.1177/02632764221103516 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/02632764221103516
Sjoraida, D. F., Bakti, I., Nugraha, A. R., & Subekti, P. (2025). Negotiating Democracy Through Symbols and Social Media: A Thematic Analysis of Political Communication in West Java’s Indigenous Communities. Sage Open, 15(4), 21582440251405174. https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440251405174 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440251405174
Teeny, J. D., Siev, J. J., Briñol, P., & Petty, R. E. (2021). A Review and Conceptual Framework for Understanding Personalized Matching Effects in Persuasion. Journal of Consumer Psychology, 31(2), 382–414. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcpy.1198 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/jcpy.1198
Trifita, A., Arif, M. C., & Zuhriyah, L. F. (2023). Contestation of moderate Islamic discourse in nu.or.id and muhammadiyah.or.id websites. KOMUNIKE: Jurnal Komunikasi Penyiaran Islam, 15(1), 15–36. https://doi.org/10.20414/jurkom.v15i1.7280 DOI: https://doi.org/10.20414/jurkom.v15i1.7280
von Sikorski, C. (2022). Visual polarisation: Examining the interplay of visual cues and media trust on the evaluation of political candidates. Journalism, 23(9), 1900–1918. https://doi.org/10.1177/1464884920987680 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1464884920987680
Widjanarko, P., Chusjairi, J. A., & Sunaryo. (2025). “Immunizing” communities: Social media and preventing/countering violent extremism initiatives by former terrorists. Frontiers in Communication, 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcomm.2025.1593509 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fcomm.2025.1593509
Wiener, A. (2017). A Theory of Contestation—A Concise Summary of Its Argument and Concepts. Polity, 49(1), 109–125. https://doi.org/10.1086/690100 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1086/690100
Wulur, L. E., Irfan, M., & Umairoh, F. (2025). Strategi Komunikasi Kementerian Agama RI di Instagram: Membangun Narasi Moderasi Beragama (2020-2024). Jurnal Intelek Insan Cendikia, 2(10), 17436–17453. https://jicnusantara.com/index.php/jiic/article/view/5290
Yusuf, M. Z., & Mutiara, D. (2022). Diseminasi Informasi Moderasi Beragama: Analisis Konten Website Kementerian Agama. Dialog, 45(1), 127–137. https://doi.org/10.47655/dialog.v45i1.535 DOI: https://doi.org/10.47655/dialog.v45i1.535
Zaid, B., Fedtke, J., Shin, D. D., Kadoussi, A. E., Ibahrine, M., Zaid, B., Fedtke, J., Shin, D. D., Kadoussi, A. E., & Ibahrine, M. (2022). Digital Islam and Muslim Millennials: How Social Media Influencers Reimagine Religious Authority and Islamic Practices. Religions, 13(4). https://doi.org/10.3390/rel13040335 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/rel13040335
Zaluchu, S., Widodo, P., & Kriswanto, A. (2025). Conceptual reconstruction of religious moderation in the Indonesian context based on previous research: Bibliometric analysis. Social Sciences & Humanities Open, 11, 101552. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssaho.2025.101552 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssaho.2025.101552
- Downloads
- Published
- 2025-08-11
- Issue
- Vol. 28 No. 1 (2025)
- Section
- Articles
- License
-
Copyright (c) 2025 Ach Barocky Zaimina

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

