ABSTRACT
KHAIRUL ANAM, Cyber Democracy in the Electoral Contest in the 2019
Presidential Election: A Study on Political Buzzers at Garuda Siaga of the
Republic of Indonesia (GASRI).
In the 2019 presidential election, it has its own uniqueness compared to the
previous presidential elections. This presidential election was a rematch in the
competition five years ago in 2014 between Joko Widodo (Jokowi) and Prabowo
Subianto. An interesting thing that needs to be investigated further is the
phenomenon of political huzzers. The Oxford Internet Institute report entitied
"The Global Disinformation Order 2019 Global Inventory of Organized Social
Media Manipulation" states that Indonesian politicians and parties mobilize and
finance cyber troops namely buzzers on social media to manipulate public
opinion. The report revealed that politicians, political parties, and private
contractors in Indonesia use buzzers to spread pro-government/party propaganda.
attack political opponents, and spread information to divide the public. It does this
by using fake accounts operated by people and bots. With the formulation of the
problem; first, what is the rule of GASRI in the election of the Jokowi candidate
pair in the 2019 presidential election?, second, what is the GASRI strategy on
Twitter in shaping the image of the Jokowi candidate pair in the 2019 presidential
election?.
This research uses constructivism paradigm, qualitative approach, and qualitative
descriptive method. The researcher uses the symbolic convergence theory from
Ernest Bormaan as the main theory. To explain the role and strategy of GASRI
towards the election of Jokowi in the 2019 Presidential Election. The analysis is
supported by six concepts from symbolic convergence theory, which consists of
basic structure, message structure, dynamic structure, communicator structure,
medium structure, and evaluative structure from Johan F Cragan and Dystopian
Benjamin Barber and Edmund Husserl.
The results of the study reveal that GASRI's buzzer activity had the aim of
campaigning for the Jokowi candidate pair in the 2019 Presidential Election who
are concerned about the rise of ethnic, religious, racial and intergroup (SARA)
issues, hoaxes, and hate speech. His presence was used to straighten and counter
false news. In addition, they also participated in comparing Jokowi by supporting,
defensive, and ofensive through positive narratives. The presence of the Jokowi
influencers was also supported by these political buzzers by strengthening.
messages that reach the public. Meanwhile, GASRI's strategy in shaping the
image of Jokowi on social media, especially on Twitter, is, first managing issues
on social media, such as by distributing content on Twitter and making Indonesian
trending topics (TTI) and the second, the synergy of volunteers to proactively
campaign for Jokowi through their social media accounts.
Keywords: Buzzer, Democracy, Social Media, Presidential Election 2019,
Jokowi.

ABSTRAK
KHAIRUL ANAM, Demokrasi Siber Dalam Kontestasi Elektoral di Pilpres
2019: Studi Terhadap Buzzer Politik di Garuda Siaga Republik Indonesia
(GASRI).
Pemilihan presiden tahun 2019 lalu terdapat keunikan tersendiri
dibandingkan pilpres-pilpres sebelumnya. Pilpres kali ini merupakan rematch
dalam persaingan lima tahun lalu di tahun 2014 antara Joko Widodo (Jokowi) dan
Prabowo Subianto. Hal yang menarik yang perlu ditelisik lebih jauh adalah
fenomena buzzer politik. Dalam laporan Oxford Internet Institute yang berjudul
"The Global Disinformation Order 2019 Global Inventory of Organised Social
Media Manipulation" ditemukan bahwa politikus dan partai-partai Indonesia
mengerahkan serta membiayai pasukan siber alias buzzer di media sosial untuk
memanipulasi opini publik. Laporan itu diungkapkan bahwa politikus, partai-
partai politik, dan kontraktor swasta di Indonesia menggunakan buzzer untuk
menyebarkan propaganda pro pemerintah/partai, menyerang lawan politik, dan
menyebarkan informasi untuk memecah belah publik. Hal ini dengan
menggunakan akun palsu yang dioperasikan oleh orang dan bot. Berdasarkan hal
ini maka muncul rumusan masalah; pertama, Bagaimana peran GASRI dalam
pemenangan Jokowi di Pilpres 2019?, kedua, Seperti apa strategi GASRI di
twitter dalam pembentukan citra Jokowi di Pilpres 2019?.
Penelitian ini menggunakan paradigma konstruktivisme, pendekatan
kualitatif, dan metode deskriptif kualitatif. Pencliti menggunakan teori
konvergensi simbolik (symbolic convergence theory) dari Ernest Bormaan sebagai
teori utama. Untuk menjelaskan peran dan strategi GASRI terhadap keterpilihan
Jokowi di Pilpres 2019. Analisa di dukung Fantasy Thema Analysis (FTA) Johan
F Cragan mulai dari basic structure, message structure, dynamic structure.
communicator structure, medium structure, dan evaluative structure. Selain itu
juga, peneliti menggunakan pendekatan Dystopian Benjamin Barber, dan Edmund
Husserl.
Hasil penelitian mengungkapkan bahwa aktivitas buzzer GASRI memiliki
tujuan mengkampanyekan Jokowi di Pilpres 2019 yang merasa prihatin dengan
maraknya isu suku, agama, ras, dan antargolongan (SARA), hoaks, dan ujaran
kebencian. Kehadiranya ini digunakan untuk meluruskan dan mengcounter berita
bohong. Selain itu, mereka juga ikut membranding Jokowi dengan cara
supporting, defensif, dan ofensive melaui narasi-narasi positif maupun negatif.
Keberadaan para influencer Jokowi juga didukung oleh para buzzer politik ini
melalui penguatan pesan-pesan yang sampai ke publik. Sementara strategi
GASRI dalam pembentukan citra Jokowi di media sosial, khususnya di twitter
adalah; pertama, mengelola isu di media sosial, seperti dengan melakukan
penyebaran konten di twitter dan membuat trending topik Indonesia (TTI). Kedua,
sinergi relawan untuk proaktif mengkampanyekan Jokowi melalui akun-akun
media sosial mereka.
Kata Kuci: Buzzer, Demokrasi, Medsos, Pilpres 2019, Jokowi.