Najwa Shihab and the Anomaly of Social Media

Najwa Shihab recently sparked widespread discussion on social media, particularly on Twitter, following a viral incident. The renowned Indonesian journalist faced massive online backlash on TikTok, stemming from statements she made during the inauguration of the President and Vice President for 2024-2029 on Narasi TV. Najwa’s use of the term “nebeng” (riding along) in reference to former President Joko Widodo’s plane ride back to Solo with the Indonesian Air Force sparked a cascade of derogatory comments. These attacks escalated irrationally, touching on issues of ethnicity, with claims circulating that Najwa, of Yemeni descent, is not a native Indonesian. The situation further deteriorated with the circulation of a video showing Najwa’s book being burned, a disturbing act supported in the comments section. This incident goes beyond book burning, signaling a fundamental crisis of intellect in Indonesia.

Education and Social Media

Indonesia, despite being one of the most populous countries globally, struggles in educational rankings, as highlighted by the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). In the 2022 report, Indonesia ranked 66th out of 81 countries. Data from the Directorate General of Population and Civil Registration reveals that only about 6.68% of the population have completed tertiary education. This indicates a significant portion, if not the majority, lacks higher education. In sharp contrast, approximately 49.9% of Indonesians are active social media users on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, WhatsApp, and Twitter. This gaping disparity between low educational attainment and high social media usage underscores the challenge of irresponsible engagement, especially regarding political issues. The proliferation of irrational behavior, such as hate speech and book burning, reflects a concept discussed by Mark Bauerlein in “The Dumbest Generation” (2008), where technological advancements do not guarantee a corresponding increase in objective knowledge.

Anomalous Social Media Behavior

The recent normalization of burning Najwa Shihab’s books on TikTok represents a dangerous anomaly. Criticism of an individual, regardless of its validity, should never justify such extreme actions. Social media platforms should serve as inclusive public spaces for dialogue on various issues. It is imperative for the government to enhance digital literacy efforts to promote responsible online behavior. Social media users, across all platforms, must exercise caution in their responses. The phenomenon of “buzzers” (paid content promoters) and influencers sowing discord is a significant factor in democratic erosion, as discussed by Sinan Aral in “The Hype Machine” (2020). These groups manipulate social media algorithms to control and distort narratives, leading the public to perceive algorithm-curated content as objective truth. Najwa Shihab’s case is an example of how influencers on TikTok exploited negative narratives, including those rooted in ethnicity, ultimately resulting in the reprehensible act of book burning. She fell victim to the intellectual crisis exacerbated by the imprudent comments and actions of social media users.

Call for Prudent Social Media Use

If a figure of Najwa Shihab’s stature and credibility can be targeted, it serves as a stark reminder to the wider “ordinary” populace to exercise caution on social media. Let us all strive for wisdom and mindfulness in our online interactions.

Author:

Rafi Aufa Mawardi, assistant lecturer and researcher at the Department of Sociology, Universitas Airlangga.