Observer Praises Puan Who Doesn't Participate In Playing Small Content On Social Media Accounts

Photo via Wardhany Tsa Tsia / VOI

JAKARTA - DPR Speaker Puan Maharani rarely uses loose change content on her social media accounts. Puan's consistency in presenting her political work as the leader of the people's representatives on social media is considered to be a differentiator from most public officials these days.

According to political communication observer from the University of Indonesia, Ari Junaedi, snackable content on social media is indeed effective in increasing the popularity of a brand, whether it is a commercial brand or a political figure, which is intended to be marketed in the presidential election contestation.

For that reason, according to Ari, many public officials have finally taken the shortcut.

"What Puan did without being tempted to follow the instant method by playing small coins on social media deserves appreciation. Because public officials' social media accounts should indeed be part of public communication itself. If the content is just loose change, the question is: the function of public officials does it make people laugh with loose content or serve the people with real work?” said Ari in Jakarta, Monday, May 30.

Ari assessed that the dime content is actually not a problem if it is only a packaging of the substance of the work of public officials as the responsibility of the mandate given by the people.

“Gimmicks in communication need to pack substance. But what we see now is that there are many who are gimmicks and loose money, but this has nothing to do with the substance of their work as public officials. Indeed, if the road officials on the sidewalks act like Ariel Noah, where is the substance of their work?” said Ari.

"That's why when Puan doesn't participate in playing loose change, it's good as a differentiator," he added.

Ari assessed that Puan's choice not to play dice content because her duties and responsibilities as the Speaker of the DPR were not light, especially in restoring public trust in the institution. Therefore, Puan's choice to use her social media account more to convey the progress and results of her work to the people was the right one.

“As in the previous ratification of the TPKS Law, the DPR will be appreciated because the Chairperson of the DPR continues to convey the progress and results of the work of making the long-awaited law to protect the people from sexual violence. People know that behind the ratification of the TPKS Law there is a big role for the DPR," said Ari.

Furthermore, Ari asked the public to be more critical in consuming the social media content of public officials, who have to work to serve the public.

"Don't let the public laugh at the official content, but forget to question the progress and results of the official's work. Because people 'pay' public officials to serve, not for comedy,” said Ari.