Buzzer (or sometimes BuzzeRp) is a pejorative term referring to a group of Indonesian pro-government social media users that discredit the opposition groups by spreading propaganda contents.[1] Notable people addressed by the pejorative include Ade Armando, Ferdinand Hutahaean, and Denny Siregar.[2]

Terminology and history

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According to Muhammad Said Didu on January 2022 at his Twitter account, political buzzers in Indonesia are mainly divided into 5 task groups:[3]

  1. Hooray teams: Wrong or right must support (one),
  2. Swearers: Swearing those that don't want to lick up (theirselves),
  3. Reporters: Reporting the opposite ones,
  4. Islamophobic: Insulting the Muslims,
  5. Ideologist: Supporting certain ideologies[.]
— Muhammad Said Didu

Buzzers originally existed on Twitter since 2009 in Indonesia for helping companies in promotion strategies. Only in 2012 when the gubernatorial election in Jakarta was held, buzzers started to enter political domains.[4] According to Yusuf Martak that pro-government buzzers felt of their impunity.[5]

References

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  1. ^ "Indonesian Government Denies Involvement in Spreading Hoaxes About Student Protesters". Vice. 9 October 2019. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
  2. ^ "Usai Akun Ade Armando Cs lenyap, 'BuzzeRp' Jadi Trending Topik Twitter". IsuBogor.com. 8 August 2021. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
  3. ^ "Said Didu Kelompokkan Buzzer Jadi Lima Bagian Sesuai Tugasnya". SeputarTangsel.com. 14 January 2022. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
  4. ^ "Sejarah Awal Keberadaan Buzzer di Indonesia". Tempo.co. 16 January 2022. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  5. ^ "Geram Marganya Pernah Disinggung Buzzer Istana Denny Siregar Cs, Yusuf Martak: Kalau Saya Hantam..." IsuBogor.com. 29 January 2022. Retrieved 29 January 2022.