BANDUNG, unpas.ac.id – Last year, Digital Civility Index (DCI) conducted a survey on the digital courtesy of world internet users when communicating in cyberspace which included respondents from 32 countries. The survey includes adult and teenager about their interactions and experiences with risk in cyberspace.
The result has just been published in February 2021 which showed that Indonesian netizens ranked in the lowest or the most impolite nation in South East Asia. Rated from 0 to 100; the lowest score means the lower online risk.
Indonesian netizens become worldwide attention because of their habit of posting negative comments on social media. Even when Microsoft released the survey result on Instagram account, the comment column was closed because it was invaded by protests from Indonesian netizens.
And so are on the other cases, including when Indonesian Badminton Team was forced to leave the 2021 All England competition, an attack on a comedian account that was mistaken for an All England referee, the incident of a chess match between Dewa Kipas and GothamChess and comments of public figure’s daily activity.
These comments of Indonesian netizen seemed to justify the label of being disrespectful; not only rude, but racist and provocative. Based on research, there are at least three factors that affect the politeness level of Indonesian netizens.
- Hoax or fraud
Hoax becomes the highest factor. Compared to last year, it rises 13 points; to 47%. Indonesian netizens are considered still unable to detect hoaxes. It is estimated that people are deliberately spreading hoaxes or do not know that what is being spread is a hoax.
To prevent sending hoax, there are a lot more warnings not to spread hoaxes than the prohibition of making hoaxes. In addition, fraud through social media is also increasingly prevalent
- Hate Speech
The decline of politeness level is also caused by the massive movement of hate speech. This factor rises 5 points; to 27%. Hate speech narration usually contains some sensitive issues, such as race, religion, sexual orientation, political views, disabilities and so on.
It begins with few assumptions/prejudices, feelings of hatred, and the last, the action which is taken to get rid of the group. The creators of hate speech argue/ seek for an excuse that they feel disappointed in a certain action.
- Discrimination
Even when it decreased by 2 points compared to last year, discriminatory behavior is still widely found on social media. This form of discrimination includes body-shape bullying (body-shaming), clothes, gender, ethnicity, to skin color.
There are a lot of netizens who did not believe and accept the result, because Indonesian are known to be famous for their hospitality and politeness in fact. As easterners, Indonesian highly respect customs and manners shown by the daily habits.
Unfortunately, there are also lots of people think that Indonesian netizens behavior on social media is contrary to the fact. It is proven by its digital traces showing that the comments of Indonesian netizens are indeed rude and provocative.
So, it would be better for us, both in cyberspace and real world, politeness should be kept number one in order not to make speculation or assumption. (Reta Amaliyah S)*