INJECT (Interdisciplinary Journal of Communication)

Gender Myth-Making in a Digital Beauty Campaign: Masculine Symbolism in the Somethinc x Batman Instagram Reels

Prita Eufho Anggraini, Ricardo Indra — Fri, 08 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study aims to analyze how feminine representations and the strength of Batman’s character are combined in Something’s beauty campaign, which was published via Instagram Reels videos. The approach used is a semiotic analysis based on Roland Barthes’ theory, which focuses on the meaning of signs and symbols in visual and verbal messages. This study examines how the soft, feminine image and Batman’s strong character complement each other to form a unique advertising message that captures the attention of a female audience. Data collection techniques include a literature review and observation of digital documents in the form of Somethinc x Batman campaign Reels videos taken from Somethinc’s official Instagram account. The data obtained was then analyzed using denotative significance, connotative significance, mythic revelation, and triangulation through the Expression, Relation, and Content (E-R-C) sign structure in Something’s Instagram Reels video content. The research findings indicate that the Something and Batman campaigns successfully created a more progressive and bold representation of femininity compared to conventional beauty advertisements. However, this representation remains a product of the commodification of heroism. The myth of strength constructed through the Batman character serves as a powerful emotional draw to attract modern female audiences, who yearn for agency and self-authority, yet are ultimately still directed to become consumer subjects within the 2025 digital beauty industry. Therefore, this study contributes to the understanding of the use of semiotics in digital marketing strategies that incorporate popular cultural symbols to influence consumer perceptions.

Analyzing Communication Strategies KPU Sergai Podcast as Digital Public Communication for Electoral Education

Yohana Yulianti Simbolon — Mon, 11 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study examines the KPU Sergai Podcast as a digital public communication initiative for voter education. While podcasts offer potential to enhance political literacy through flexible and narrative-driven formats, their effectiveness in institutional contexts remains limited. This research employs a qualitative case study approach, integrating podcast analytics, content observation, and in-depth interviews to analyze how communication strategies are designed and implemented. The findings reveal that podcast performance remains suboptimal, as indicated by consistently low audience reach (fewer than 100 views per episode) and minimal engagement, including limited likes and the absence of comments and shares. These patterns suggest that the podcast has not succeeded in expanding its visibility or fostering interactive communication. Beyond descriptive results, the study identifies a structural communication problem. Internal constraints such as limited resources, lack of technical capacity, and restricted production quality shape content characteristics and distribution strategies, resulting in predominantly one-way communication and misalignment with audience preferences, particularly among younger users. The findings demonstrate a causal pathway in which these constraints lead to audience misalignment, low engagement, and passive audience behavior. This condition reflects a broader communication gap between the interactive potential of digital media and its practical implementation in governmental communication. This study contributes by offering an integrated analytical framework linking institutional capacity, content strategy, and audience engagement. Practically, it highlights the need for more interactive content, multi-platform distribution, and improved production quality to enhance digital public communication effectiveness.

Normalizing Online Gambling Through Multimodal Food and Beverage Advertising Imagery

Vivit Novita Axviarani, Reza Safitri, Fitri Hariana Oktaviani — Tue, 12 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Online gambling advertisements have become increasingly prevalent across Indonesian social media platforms, although gambling is legally prohibited in Indonesia. These advertisements employ covert advertising strategies by masquerading as online gambling through familiar food and beverage imagery. Multimodal elements are utilized as a persuasive strategy to shape and normalize gambling practices. This study critically examines how multimodal elements are constructed in covert advertisements format and how these constructions contribute to the normalization of online gambling practices within Indonesian digital culture. The study demonstrates how multimodal elements operate as persuasive strategies in covert online gambling advertisements. Drawing upon Multimodal Critical Discourse Analysis (MCDA), the study analyzes three advertisements collected from the Meta Ads Library in 2025 that masquerade as Mie Sedaap (instant noodles), Potabee (snacks), and Sprite (soft drinks). The findings reveal two dominant normalization discourses. First, gambling is normalized as a familiar and risk-free consumption practice through symbolic associations with familiar food and beverage imagery. This process reflects a form of symbolic domestication, in which gambling is gradually relocated from a stigmatized and illegal activity into an ordinary and culturally familiar consumption practice. Second, gambling is normalized as an enjoyable and rewarding activity through promotional language emphasizing guaranteed winning and high financial profits, ultimately fostering an instant success fantasy. These findings contribute to critical discussions on covert advertising and online gambling normalization in Indonesia.

Supervisor-Subordinate Communication and Employee Performance: A Qualitative Case Study

Suryadi Wardiana, Serius Zebua, Adrianus Risda Lega — Tue, 12 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Supervisor-subordinate communication is widely recognized as an important factor in employee motivation and performance. However, many previous studies have examined communication mainly as a general organizational variable, with limited attention to the relational processes through which supervisory communication is interpreted and transformed into motivational and performance-related outcomes. This study examines supervisor-subordinate communication as a relational mechanism in a hierarchical workplace context. In this study, relational mechanism refers to recurring communicative processes through which supervisory messages are interpreted by subordinates as sources of clarity, inclusion, guidance, support, and coordination. Using a qualitative case study design at PT Modella, Indonesia, this study draws on semi-structured interviews, observation, and organizational documentation involving one leadership-level key informant and five employee informants from production, packing, administration, and sales divisions. Thematic analysis identified five relational communication processes: task clarification, dialogic participation, constructive feedback, emotional support, and cross-functional coordination. These processes shaped work motivation by strengthening role certainty, perceived appreciation, psychological safety, learning orientation, and self-confidence. They also contributed to perceived performance through clearer task execution, fewer work errors, faster problem solving, and smoother inter-divisional coordination. The study contributes to organizational communication scholarship by showing that supervisor-subordinate communication influences motivation and perceived performance not only through information transmission but also through employees’ relational interpretation of supervisory interaction. The findings should be understood within the limits of a single qualitative case study and perceived rather than objectively measured performance.

Social Work Practice and Communication for Girl Survivors of Sexual Violence: A Social Rehabilitation Perspective in Indonesia

Fri, 15 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Sexual violence against girls constitutes a serious violation of human rights, with profound physical, psychological, and social consequences that require comprehensive and sustained responses. Within this context, such violence is closely linked to gendered power relations and vulnerabilities shaping girl’s experiences and recovery processes. This study aims to examine social work practice and communication in social rehabilitation for girl survivors of sexual violence at a Handayani Jakarta Service Center in Indonesia. A qualitative phenomenological approach was employed, with data collected through in-depth interviews, observations, and document analysis involving five purposively selected informants, consisting of three social workers, one acting head of the center, and one administrative head; data were analyzed through reduction, display, and conclusion drawing. The findings indicate that social rehabilitation is implemented through stages including assessment, service planning, interventions across family, community, and residential settings, as well as monitoring and post-service support, with social workers performing on practice and communication within a survivor-centered approach. The study concludes that strengthening professional capacity, cross-sector coordination, and inclusive strategies is essential to support the sustainable recovery of girl survivors.

Research Trends of Family Communication in Caregiving Context: A Bibliometric Mapping From 2016 to 2025

Hanif Swastika, Reza Safitri — Sat, 16 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Despite the universal nature of family caregiving and its profound impact on family communication patterns and psychological well-being, this field remains fragmented across disciplines with limited theoretical integration and geographic disparities. This study addresses this gap by providing comprehensive landscape mapping of family communication and caregiving as an integrated field, rather than examining isolated contexts. This quantitative bibliometric analysis examines 421 Scopus-indexed articles (2016–2025) using keyword co-occurrence mapping to identify research trends in family caregiving communication by using VOSviewer software (threshold of 5 keywords). As the result, 106 keywords, 2.460 links, and 7.406 total link strength are categorized into six thematic clusters: (1) Child and Adolescent Development in Family Contexts, (2) Interpersonal Dynamics & Decision Making, (3) Social Support & Palliative Contexts, (4) Professional-Patient Interaction & Health Literacy, (5) Geriatric Caregiving & Illness Narratives, and (6) Digital Health, Migration & Crisis. The United States dominates research output (51.8%, n=218), with most prolific authors including Barkan, S.E. (n=3), Cooper, R.A. (n=3), and Goldsmith, J.V. (n=3). Meanwhile, 81% of publications originate from English-speaking countries, leaving substantial Global South populations underrepresented. While publication volume increased by 204% over the decade, with 54% (228 articles) published after 2022, analysis reveals structural asymmetries. Dementia research comprises 24% of occurrences, overshadowing emerging domains like transnational caregiving that demonstrate high citation impact. Findings are interpreted through Family Systems Theory, Relational Dialectic Theory, and Communication Privacy Management. This map identifies a critical geographic-intellectual divide and argues for a shift toward locally-grounded, longitudinal research, serving as a strategic guide for scholars and policymakers to bridge fragmented research communities and prioritize underserved caregiving settings.

Seeing Culture Through Space: How Visual and Spatial Arrangements Communicate Sasak Cultural Identity in Dusun Sade's Tourism Setting

Furqonita Pramadanti Wahyudi, Anang Sujoko, Desi Dwi Prianti — Mon, 18 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study examines how cultural identity is communicated without words through the visual and spatial arrangements of Dusun Sade, a living Sasak heritage village in Lombok, Indonesia. Drawing on Foucault's conceptualization of spatial power and Rose's framework of the visual apparatus, the study argues that cultural identity communication in tourism operates through the systematic organization of space, movement, and visibility rather than through explicit narration or display. Systematic photo-documentation yielded a corpus of 127 images collected during fieldwork in December 2025, analyzed for recurring spatial and visual patterns at both empirical and discursive levels. Three patterns were identified: concentrated visitor movement along a primary corridor, consistent architectural emphasis on natural materials within that corridor, and the exclusive positioning of cultural and commercial activities along the established visitor route. Together, these arrangements produce a selective but coherent visual representation of the Sasak tradition that visitors encounter as natural and authentic. This study extends existing applications of Foucauldian and Rose's frameworks to the context of inhabited traditional villages, demonstrating that spatial governance operates as a mechanism of cultural identity production in living heritage tourism settings.

Judicial Reasoning In Marriage Dispensation Cases: A Maqasid Al-Shariah Analysis Of Premarital Pregnancy

Muniroh Chamim, Zaidi Abdad , Masnun Tahir, Naura Sania Zaimi — Thu, 21 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Marriage dispensation requests due to premarital pregnancy have become a significant legal and ethical issue in the practice of religious courts in Indonesia. This study analyzes the judicial reasoning in Decision Number 212/Pdt.P/2023/PA.Mtr and evaluates its alignment with the objectives of Maqasid al-Sharia. This research used a case study approach to examine the court’s legal reasoning alongside relevant statutory frameworks, including Law Number 16 of 2019, Supreme Court Regulation Number 5 of 2019, and the Compilation of Islamic Law. The findings indicate that the judge relied on considerations of public benefit (maslahah) and the prevention of greater harm (mafsadah) to justify granting the dispensation. The decision frames marriage as a mechanism to protect lineage (hifz al-nasl), ensure the legal status of the unborn child, and mitigate social stigma. However, the case also reveals a normative tension between short-term social urgency and the long-term objectives of child protection within a maqasid-based framework.

Public Communication in Smart Cities: A Bibliometric Analysis

Syahril, Achmad Nurmandi — Thu, 21 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study scrutinizes the development of research on public communication in smart cities during the 2016–2024 period through a bibliometric approach. Drawing on bibliometric analysis, it identifies the mapping of publication trends, knowledge structures, thematic developments, and the transformation of research paradigms related to public communication within smart city studies. It shows that research on public communication in smart cities has grown significantly since 2016. Early studies were primarily dominated by themes related to information and communication technologies (ICT), the Internet of Things (IoT), big data, digital platforms, and smart governance systems. Over time, research trends shifted toward issues of citizen participation, transparency, digital inclusion, sustainability, privacy, cybersecurity, and ethical governance. The bibliometric analysis also reveals that the United States, China, and the United Kingdom are the countries with the highest publication contributions. Furthermore, the thematic synthesis identified five major research clusters: Digital Communication Infrastructure, Smart Governance and Citizen Participation, Sustainability and Urban Communication, Security and Privacy, and Human-Centered Smart Cities. This study confirms that public communication in smart cities is no longer limited to the dissemination of digital information but has evolved into a multidimensional governance approach that integrates citizen engagement, transparency, sustainability, digital ethics, and participatory communication within the broader framework of smart urban transformation.

The Impact of Color Psychology on Learning Interest and Motivation in E-Learning Visual Communication

Marcellino Imanuel Kurniawan, Alexander Wirapraja — Thu, 21 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study aims to analyze the influence of color psychology in e-learning visual communication on users’ learning interest and motivation in the JAPANGO application. This research is motivated by the importance of color as a visual element in digital communication that can influence users’ cognitive and emotional responses during the learning process. In the context of e-learning, color functions not only as an aesthetic element but also as a visual stimulus that can enhance users’ attention, engagement, and learning experience. This study employed a quantitative approach with an explanatory design. Data were collected through an online questionnaire using a Likert scale distributed to 224 Indonesian young users who had experience using the JAPANGO mobile-based Japanese language learning application. Data analysis was conducted using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) with the assistance of AMOS software. The results showed that color psychology had a positive and significant effect on learning interest (β = 0.984; p < 0.001) and learning motivation (β = 1.158; p < 0.001). However, learning interest did not have a significant effect on learning motivation (β = -0.161; p = 0.596). These findings indicate that color-based visual stimuli in e-learning can directly influence users’ learning motivation without necessarily going through gradual cognitive processes. Therefore, color can be utilized as an effective visual communication strategy to enhance users’ digital learning experiences.

Integrating Public Relations And Digital Advertising In Telecommunications: Evidence From An Emerging Market Case

Kurnia Dwi Ebthasarie, Rachmat Kriyantono, Bambang Dwi Prasetyo — Thu, 21 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Digital transformation has transformed the way marketing communications work, now requiring strategic collaboration between Public Relations (PR) and digital advertising within an Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) framework. This study examines the synergistic digital public relations and advertising strategies implemented by Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison (IOH) and their impact on marketing communication effectiveness in the context of digital disruption. A qualitative case study design was used to collect data through comprehensive interviews, cross-channel campaign content analysis, and examination of company documentation. Findings indicate that IOH institutionalized cross-functional collaboration through its Integrated Communications Unit (UKT), which aligns the formulation of PR's strategic narrative with the adaptation of visuals and audiovisuals by digital marketing, ensuring message consistency, cultural relevance, and content harmonization across audience touchpoints. This integration increased brand awareness (with a 42% surge in organic reach), strengthened audience engagement (5.8% above the industry average of 3.2%), and built a more authentic brand perception (+16% positive sentiment). The use of the IMC Alignment Framework after 2022 also increased video completion rates by 21% and the consistency of key visual messages. Conceptually, this research expands the understanding of value-based IMC, positions PR as a brand narrative organizer in an integrated digital communications ecosystem, and offers a practical model of synergy between PR and digital advertising that can be applied in other industries with contextual adjustments.

Government Digital Public Relations Practices in a Culture-Based Smart City: A Qualitative Case Study of Denpasar, Indonesia

Irla Yulia, Nurkhalila Fajrini, Sri Pujiati — Sat, 23 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Smart city development is often dominated by technology-driven approaches that emphasize digital infrastructure and technological efficiency, while overlooking socio-cultural communication processes and government-public relationships. This study aims to analyze the government’s Digital Public Relations (Digital PR) practices in the context of a culture-based smart city in Denpasar, Indonesia. This study employs an interpretive qualitative case study approach through in-depth interviews, observations of the Denpasar City Government’s digital communication platforms, and literature analysis. The findings reveal that the government’s Digital PR practices function not only as mechanisms for disseminating public information and services but also as relational and socio-cultural communication processes through which the government represents cultural identity, negotiates public legitimacy, and shapes communication relationships in the digital public sphere. However, government-public communication in the digital space remains predominantly informative, institutionally controlled, and not yet fully dialogic or participatory. Public participation also remains layered and unevenly distributed due to disparities in digital literacy, socio-cultural communication structures, and unequal participatory capacities among citizens. Furthermore, non-governmental actors such as community intermediaries, tourism stakeholders, alternative digital media, and tourists actively participate in the production, dissemination, and validation of cultural meanings within Denpasar smart city communication ecosystem. Nevertheless, communicative authority and agenda-setting processes remain institutionally centralized, resulting in collaborative yet asymmetrical participation dynamics. Based on these findings, this study proposes a Culture-Based Digital Public Relations Relationship Model. The model emphasizes that effective communication in culture-based smart cities depends not only on technological readiness and digital infrastructure but also on socio-cultural mediation, participatory communication practices, and the government’s ability to accommodate negotiated cultural meanings within hybrid digital public spaces.

Digital Hybridity and Ecological Advocacy in Wayang Motekar as a Cultural Communication Strategy

Atalia Praratya, Diah Sri Rejeki, Ibrahim Adi Surya; Della Dwinanti Sumpena — Sat, 23 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Traditional Indonesian performing arts have faced the challenge of low youth participation in the digital era, raising questions about cultural continuity. This research investigates the application of strategic communication to contemporary Wayang Motekar, a modernist version of Sundanese puppet theatre through which traditional cultural messages are conveyed to digital-native participants. The data were collected through 14 semi-structured interviews (with creators, production teams, cultural observers, and audiences), 8 live performances, and a systematic analysis of digital material from YouTube and Instagram. Three interlinked strategic dimensions were identified. 1) Message planning or the strategic recontextualization of environmental philosophy, which was framed in Sundanese as part of contemporary sustainability discourse, 2) media selection that included video-mapping, projection systems, and platform-differentiated digital distribution; and 3) participatory delivery methods focusing on aesthetic-emotional co-creation rather than didactic instruction. This successful process of cultural communication is facilitated by symbolic-aesthetic involvement, multimodal translation between media platforms, and the positioning of the audience as super-active sense-makers, strategically moving strategic communication theorizing from organization to the sphere of cultural performance. While Wayang Motekar has succeeded in presenting traditional arts as contemporary and can be accepted by the younger generation, it is a matter of fact that success depends on the capability of digital technology literacy among youths, the availability of digital infrastructures, and socio-economic conditions. The study develops an overarching theoretical framework that conceptualizes aesthetic hybridity as instrumental communication, which allows for the empirical identification of the persistence of traditional modes of knowledge, considering digital change.

Cultural Communication and Digital Mnemonic Practices: The Case of Orang Sungai in Urban Pontianak, Indonesia

Annisa Dwi Lestari, Muhammad Maulana, Nur Quma Laila, Mirna Yusuf — Mon, 25 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study aims to analyze how the Orang Sungai community in Pontianak, Indonesia, reproduces identity through cultural communication channels and digital platforms. Amid increasingly intensive pressures of urbanization, the local identity of riparian communities is often marginalized by formal development narratives that overlook the cultural dimensions of riverbank life. Using an interpretive qualitative approach to narrative texts and digital representations, this study finds that identity communication is articulated through three main domains, namely the use of river cosmology as a moral anchor of communication, the conversion of water-based work ethics into economic-communicative resilience, and mnemonic practices through digital commemoration. The findings show that adaptive cultural communication enables the community to negotiate its presence in urban public space without losing the ecological roots of its identity. This study recommends the integration of riparian local wisdom into urban development communication policy.

Institutional Credibility in Government-Managed Tourism Storytelling: A Systematic Review

Lalu Muhammad Rifqi Nugraha, Maulina Pia Wulandari, Zulkarnain — Mon, 25 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This systematic literature review examines how institutional credibility, digital storytelling, and cultural identity have been conceptualized within government-managed tourism communication research. Despite growing attention to Destination Management Organization (DMO) digital communication, these constructs have been addressed in isolation: institutional credibility through crisis communication and brand trust frameworks, digital storytelling as a marketing mechanism, and cultural identity as narrative content disconnected from governance evaluation. Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines and a PICO framework, Scopus searches identified 384 records, of which 35 met the inclusion criteria. Thematic analysis produced four clusters: institutional credibility and DMO crisis communication, digital storytelling and destination branding, digital storytelling and cultural identity, and DMO digital communication practice. Cross-thematic analysis revealed a structural dissociation, as only 10 of 35 studies (28.6%) addressed all three dimensions simultaneously. Interpreted through Fombrun's Institutional Credibility (IC) framework (encompassing competence, trustworthiness, reliability, and legitimacy), findings show that existing studies engage with these dimensions selectively and without integration into a coherent governance communication account. Cultural identity emerges as an undertheorized credibility signal: when DMOs authentically integrate local heritage into storytelling, they implicitly invoke all four dimensions, yet the conditions under which audiences endorse, or contest such claims, remain untested. This review extends Fombrun's framework toward governance communication in digital tourism and proposes cultural identity authenticity as a mediating variable between storytelling and institutional credibility, reframing digital storytelling as a governance mechanism for trust-building. The most pressing gaps identified include the absence of validated IC measurement instruments and persistent Global North dominance in the literature.

Ethnographic Exploration of Multinational Corporate Culture and Innovation at Lazada Logistics Bandung

Ganjar Kurniawan Ramdani, Ike Juanita Triwardhani, O Hasbiansyah — Mon, 25 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study employs an ethnographic communication approach to explore how multinational corporate culture influences innovation at Lazada Logistics Indonesia’s Bandung Regional branch, with a focus on communication practices, organizational culture, and multicultural dynamics. Findings reveal a complex relationship among factors contributing to innovation. Lazada’s multinational culture, characterized by workforce diversity and inclusive communication, fosters creativity and collaboration. Data were collected over two months through participant observation, five in-depth interviews, and fifteen focus group discussions with participants across management, operational, and support staff. The use of multiple languages, primarily Bahasa Indonesia supplemented by English, promotes inclusivity while also presenting challenges such as language barriers. Leadership emerged as a key facilitator, with transformational leadership styles effectively inspiring employees. However, challenges include balancing operational demands with innovation, managing cultural diversity, and addressing communication barriers. These findings contribute to understanding how trusted community-embedded structures mediate the translation of organizational culture into innovative behavior in LMIC-adjacent corporate settings.This study employs an ethnographic communication approach to explore how multinational corporate culture influences innovation at Lazada Logistics Indonesia’s Bandung Regional branch, with a focus on communication practices, organizational culture, and multicultural dynamics. Findings reveal a complex relationship among factors contributing to innovation. Lazada’s multinational culture, characterized by workforce diversity and inclusive communication, fosters creativity and collaboration. Data were collected over two months through participant observation, five in-depth interviews, and fifteen focus group discussions with participants across management, operational, and support staff. The use of multiple languages, primarily Bahasa Indonesia supplemented by English, promotes inclusivity while also presenting challenges such as language barriers. Leadership emerged as a key facilitator, with transformational leadership styles effectively inspiring employees. However, challenges include balancing operational demands with innovation, managing cultural diversity, and addressing communication barriers. These findings contribute to understanding how trusted community-embedded structures mediate the translation of organizational culture into innovative behavior in LMIC-adjacent corporate settings.

Negotiating Sundanese Cultural Values through Family WhatsApp Communication

Aep Wahyudin, Lucy Pujasari Supratman, Ahmad Sarbini , Dindin Solahudin — Mon, 25 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study examines how Sundanese cultural values are negotiated and communicated through family WhatsApp group interactions in everyday digital communication. The research aims to explore how family members reproduce cultural meanings and maintain relational values through routine online interaction. The study contributes to communication studies by providing insight into the role of digital family communication in shaping cultural identity within the context of Indonesian local culture. A qualitative approach was employed using thematic analysis informed by semiotic interpretation. Data were collected from three Sundanese family WhatsApp groups in West Java, Indonesia, over a three-month observation period. The data consists of text-based conversations containing greetings, advice, religious expressions, humor, and everyday family discussions. The findings show that Sundanese cultural values are communicated through recurring interactional patterns such as politeness, respect toward elders, expressions of care, humility, and religious discourse. These interactions demonstrate that WhatsApp group communication functions not only as a medium for information exchange but also as a space where cultural meanings are continuously negotiated through everyday interaction. The study highlights the importance of digital family communication in sustaining social relationships and cultural identity within contemporary mediated environments.

Technology Adaptation Patterns and Third-Level Digital Divide: Analyzing Workplace Communication at PT. Pesta Pora Abadi

Nurul Fatihah, Reza Safitri, Yuyun Agus Riani — Mon, 25 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study provides an exploratory overview of patterns of technological adaptation as a fundamental factor contributing to the intergenerational digital divide between Generation Z and Millennials at PT Pesta Pora Abadi. Unlike previous literature, which often emphasizes access to infrastructure or basic technical skills, this study argues that the root of the digital divide lies in differences in how individuals internalize and operationalize new technologies in the workplace. Using a descriptive qualitative design, data were collected through in-depth interviews and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs). Thematic analysis identified five distinct adaptation patterns: intuitive-agile adaptation, structured-procedural adaptation, learning speed disparities, resistance to specific platforms, and the contradiction between integrity-based validation and efficiency. The findings reveal that these differing patterns create systemic noise in corporate communication, regardless of the individual’s level of technical proficiency. Practically, this study recommends that organizations implement reverse mentoring and align the digital growth mindset with corporate values (I-ACT) to bridge this gap.

Cultural Identity as Communicative Accomplishment: Social Identity Processes among Flores Migrants in Surabaya

Fransisca Fitria Kusainintyas, Jefri Setyawan — Tue, 26 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study aims to examine how Flores migrants in Surabaya negotiate and maintain their cultural identity through interpersonal, communal, and digital communication within an urban Javanese setting. The research focuses on the communicative practices of Flores migrant communities and the digital discourse surrounding NTT (Nusa Tenggara Timur) and Flores identity on social media platforms. Employing a qualitative case study design, data were collected through Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with five Flores migrants in Surabaya and netnographic analysis of YouTube videos and public comments related to NTT identity representation. Drawing on Social Identity Theory, the findings reveal three core themes: (1) boundary communication through embodied markers such as skin color, accent, and ethnic names; (2) constructing belonging through relational language, communal rituals, and traditional dress; and (3) performing pride through digital narratives that counter stigma and affirm cultural heritage. The results demonstrate that digital discourse provides spaces for public articulation of NTT identity, while face-to-face community interactions reinforce solidarity and mutual support among migrants. This study concludes that cultural identity is not merely a psychological resource but a dynamic communicative process through which Flores migrants negotiate difference, recognition, and belonging in multicultural urban life.

Performing Minority Identity: Storytelling Practices Of Indonesian Migrant Caregivers On Tiktok

Jihan Farida Putri, Maylanny Christin — Fri, 29 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study aims to analyze how Indonesian migrant caregivers in Japan construct and perform their minority identities through storytelling practices on TikTok. It also explores the extent to which these representations open up opportunities for the emergence of micro-celebrities in the digital space. Previous studies have tended to position migrant workers as objects of structural analysis, thus remaining limited in explaining how they actively encode, negotiate, and represent their lived experiences through self-produced narratives on social media. To address this gap, this study employs a qualitative approach using Qualitative Content Analysis (QCA) on ten TikTok videos produced by Indonesian migrant caregivers, with thematic analysis assisted by NVivo software. The findings identify seven main themes: emotional burden, occupational risks, workplace realities, self-regulation, workplace relationship dynamics, communication barriers, and personal growth. Through the lens of Stuart Hall’s theory of representation, these narratives reflect dominant, negotiated, and oppositional readings. Digital storytelling functions not only as a medium for self-expression but also as a strategic performative practice that generates authenticity capital, reinforces niche identity, and builds parasocial bonds with the audience. This study contributes to expanding communication research on performative minority identity at the intersection of digital storytelling, platform visibility, and migrant workers’ self-representation.

Multilingual Communication and Intercultural Adaptation Among Indonesian Diaspora Students in Davao

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study examines multilingual communication practices and intercultural adaptation among Indonesian diaspora students at Sekolah Indonesia Davao (SID), a government-sponsored Indonesian school in Davao City, Mindanao, Philippines. Grounded in intercultural communication theory, specifically Gudykunst and Kim’s (2003) cross-cultural adaptation model, Ting-Toomey’s (1999) face-negotiation theory, and Deardorff’s (2006) intercultural competence framework, the study investigates how SID students deploy multilingual communication repertoires as strategies for intercultural adaptation and identity negotiation in a complex four-language ecology (Indonesian, English, Filipino, and Bisaya). Using a descriptive quantitative design with supplementary qualitative analysis, data were collected from ten purposively selected students (grades 9–12) through a validated 27-item bilingual questionnaire. Results reveal that (1) 90% of respondents engage in multilingual communication switching, with a trilingual Indonesian–English–Filipino/Bisaya pattern dominating (60%), reflecting achieved intercultural communicative competence rather than linguistic deficiency; (2) habit is the primary communication motivation (70%), indicating that multilingual switching has been internalized as an unmarked communicative norm; (3) a polyglossic communication structure pertains, with Indonesian dominating formal institutional contexts and mixed codes functioning as the face-affirming, solidarity-building register of informal interaction; (4) 60% of respondents demonstrate high metalinguistic awareness of their communication practices; and (5) all respondents affirm that multilingual communication competence contributes positively to intercultural adaptation in Davao. Beyond individual switching, the study identifies an emergent community-level communication code, a shared trilingual variety functioning simultaneously as a diasporic identity marker. These findings contribute to interdisciplinary communication science by demonstrating that multilingual communication practices in diaspora school communities constitute sophisticated intercultural competence strategies, and carry direct implications for intercultural communication-informed language education policy in overseas Indonesian schools (SILN).

Persuasive Communication in Digital Philanthropy: Bridging the Zakat Intention-Behavior Gap on Instagram

Agustin Santriana Wijayant, Asep Suryana, Hadi Suprapto Arifin — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This research investigates how Islamic philanthropic institutions employ digital persuasive communication strategies on Instagram to bridge the critical intention-behavior gap following public trust deficits. By integrating persuasive message design with an extended Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), this study examines the impact of institutional trust-building, visual social proof (social norms), and instructional clarity (perceived ease of transaction) in predicting digital zakat behavior. An explanatory quantitative survey was conducted among 385 active Instagram followers of Rumah Zakat Indonesia, with data analyzed using the PLS-SEM algorithm. The findings reveal that visual social proof, manifested as a digital bandwagon effect, is the most dominant persuasive predictor of the audience's zakat intention. Crucially, trust-building messages lack a significant direct effect on actual behavior, requiring the audience's intention as a full mediator. Furthermore, clear instructional communication regarding digital transaction functions as a 'moral nudge' that directly facilitates spontaneous giving. To optimize digital philanthropy, persuasive communication campaigns must move beyond generic transparency claims and prioritize influencer-driven social proof combined with frictionless digital call-to-actions.

Melawi Malay Medicine Mantras As A Medium Of Religious Communication

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Mantras in the Malay oral tradition function not only as a means of traditional medicine but also as a medium of religious communication that transmits Islamic values through local cultural symbols. This study aims to analyze how Melawi Malay medicine mantras function as a medium of religious communication in conveying religious messages to the community. The study employed a qualitative-descriptive approach through text analysis and cultural interpretation of six traditional medicine mantras of the Melawi Malay community in West Kalimantan. The analysis was conducted using Paul Ricoeur’s cultural hermeneutics, Bronislaw Malinowski’s anthropological approach, and the perspective of cultural communication to understand the relationship among ritual language, local symbols, and religious messages within the mantras. Data were collected through interviews, observation, recordings of mantra recitations, and transcription using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). The findings indicate that the mantras contain strong elements of religious communication through the use of declarations of tawhid, the mention of Allah, the Prophet Muhammad, and religious prayers integrated with natural symbols, local cosmology, traditional magical elements, and relationships between humans and nature. These findings demonstrate that mantras function not only as a medium of healing but also as a medium of religious communication that enables Islamic values to be communicated and internalized through local cultural structures that already possess social legitimacy within the community. This study contributes to the development of religious communication and cultural communication studies by demonstrating that oral traditions can serve as a medium for conveying religious messages within traditional societies.

TikTok Marketing Communication and Purchase Intention Through Brand Awareness, Brand Engagement, and Perceived Value

Aulia Sa’diah , Siti Dyah Handayani — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The objective of this study is to examine the effect of TikTok social media marketing on purchase intention through the mediating roles of brand awareness, customer brand engagement, and perceived value among consumers of local fashion brands. As digital communication platforms continue to influence consumer behavior, the psychological mechanisms through which social media marketing shapes purchase intention remain insufficiently understood. Using a quantitative approach, data were collected from 200 respondents and analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The results reveal that social media marketing significantly influences purchase intention both directly and indirectly through brand awareness, customer brand engagement, and perceived value. Among the three mediating variables, brand awareness emerged as the strongest mediator, followed by perceived value and customer brand engagement. These findings indicate that TikTok-based communication activities play an important role in helping consumers recognize, remember, and evaluate brands, which subsequently strengthens their purchase intention. This study contributes to digital communication and consumer behavior literature by explaining how social media marketing influences purchase intention through brand awareness, customer brand engagement, and perceived value in the context of Indonesian local fashion brands.

Lecturers' Communication Competence and Undergraduate Students' Reading Interest: The Mediating Role of Motivation at Telkom University

Rahadatul Aisyah Dhiaulhaq, A Hasan Al Husain — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Students often face difficulties in meeting academic standards, particularly in reading activities. Reading interest is an internal drive that encourages individuals to engage in reading voluntarily. In this context, the reading interest of undergraduate students at Telkom University is influenced by various factors, one of which is lecturers’ communication competence as facilitators in the learning process. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the influence of lecturers’ communication competence on students’ reading interest through motivation. This study employs a quantitative approach using the Structural Equation Modeling–Partial Least Squares (SEM-PLS) method and is grounded in Self-Determination Theory. The study involved 400 respondents selected using the cluster random sampling technique. The findings indicate that lecturers’ communication competence has a positive and significant effect on students’ motivation and reading interest. Furthermore, motivation also has a positive and significant effect on reading interest and acts as a mediating variable in the relationship between lecturers’ communication competence and students’ reading interest.

Digital Marketing Communication, e-WOM Amplification, and Consumer Loyalty: A Mediation Analysis

Haryadi Mujianto, Septiawan Santana Kurnia, Oji Kurniadi, Anne Maryani — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study examines the mediating role of e-WOM amplification in the relationship between digital marketing communication strategies and consumer loyalty among Indonesian social media users. Using a quantitative explanatory survey design, data were collected from 180 purposively selected respondents with prior experience in online purchasing and e-WOM activities. The study employed multiple linear regression and mediation analysis using the PROCESS macro Model 4 with 5,000 bootstrapped samples. The findings reveal that digital marketing communication strategies significantly influence e-WOM amplification and consumer loyalty. Consumer engagement and user-generated content emerged as the strongest indicators within the digital communication and e-WOM dimensions. The mediation analysis confirmed that e-WOM amplification partially mediates the relationship between digital marketing communication and consumer loyalty, indicating that digital communication becomes more effective when consumers actively participate in disseminating brand-related information through social media interactions. These findings highlight the strategic importance of interactive communication, information credibility, and participatory digital engagement in strengthening long-term consumer loyalty. The study contributes theoretically by extending the conceptualization of e-WOM as an amplification mechanism within digital marketing communication and provides practical implications for companies seeking to optimize digital communication strategies in competitive online markets.

Digital Public Relations in School-Based Health Campaigns: A Systematic Literature Review toward a Hybrid Engagement Model in the Indonesian Context

Wiratri Anindhita, Muria Putriana, Wina Puspita Sari — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study explores the role of digital public relations in school-based health campaigns and addresses the lack of an integrative framework to link communication, engagement, and digital interaction. The study employed a qualitative Systematic Literature Review (SLR) using the PRISMA framework. A total of 45 peer-reviewed articles published between 2015 and 2024 were analyzed. The study combined bibliometric analysis using VOSviewer and thematic synthesis through open, axial, and selective coding. The findings revealed three key gaps: (1) conceptual fragmentation between communication and engagement theories, (2) limited contextual exploration in developing countries like Indonesia, and (3) the methodological dominance of empirical studies without conceptual integration. The results also indicated that communication practices were largely one-way, engagement was reduced to measurable metrics, and digital media was used primarily as a delivery tool rather than an interactive platform. This study proposed a Hybrid Engagement Model comprising institutional communication, participatory engagement, and digital interaction that could contribute to education and communication research by positioning schools as active communication hubs and promoting digitally integrated participatory health campaigns.

Borobudur as a Cosmological Communication System: The Main Stupa as a Giant Gnomon in Javanese Buddhist Tradition

Deni Setiawan, Lasiyo, Iva Ariani — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This research looks at the main stupa at Borobudur and how it works like a big shadow tool for the sky. It seems tied to older Javanese views on the universe and what people knew about farming back then. Sources on old astronomy and building studies were compared in a descriptive way, along with some historical notes. The layout and carvings probably hold details on time and crops, so the monument could pass things along to people nearby. I think the shadows line up at certain points in the year with a local calendar that splits the seasons into twelve. That part feels like it helped share practical knowledge with farmers around the area. Some of the alignments might connect to Buddhist ideas too, but it is not totally clear how far that goes. The design has layers that do not always fit together neatly in what gets discussed. This paper brings together archeoastronomy and communication theory in a new framework. It fills a gap by treating cosmological communication as layers of symbols and environmental knowledge that get passed on. I think that part stands out as useful, but maybe it oversimplifies the connections. The findings point to a need for stronger heritage protection. Not just the buildings, but the living knowledge about the cosmos that stays tied to them. Using secondary sources has some limits, though. It feels like primary field observations and direct solar measurements could help later studies. Some details might still need checking in person.

Disaster Communication Governance at Yogyakarta International Airport

Achmad Rizki Arrajabi, Maulina Pia Wulandari, Yuyun Agus Riani — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Public relations in high-risk infrastructure is not limited to media relations or message dissemination, but also includes stakeholder coordination, meaning alignment, and public trust maintenance during a crisis. This study reframes airport disaster communication as a strategic public relations practice by examining how stakeholder coordination is designed, enacted, and strengthened at Yogyakarta International Airport. Using a qualitative case study approach, data were collected through in-depth interviews, limited observation, and strategic document analysis involving airport authorities, operational units, and disaster-related external stakeholders. Guided by Stakeholder Management Theory and a strategic public relations perspective, the findings show that crisis coordination emerges through negotiated authority, layered information flows, frontline empathetic communication, and simulation-based institutional learning. Formal documents such as standard operating procedures and disaster management plans provide a basic structure, yet their effectiveness depends on cross-unit information synchronization and the capacity to translate technical risk into credible public messages. The study contributes to public relations scholarship by demonstrating that crisis communication in critical infrastructure functions as communicative governance that links stakeholder engagement, organization-public relationships, legitimacy, and adaptive resilience.

Communication of Digital Crowdfunding as a Social Behavioral Change: Systematic Literature Review of Health-Based Crowdfunding in Indonesia

Maulana Irfan, Binahayati Rusyidi, Soni A Nulhaqim, Olih Solihin — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Health crowdfunding through digital platforms is now a major social trend in Indonesia. But how these practices correlate with Social and Behavioral Change Communication (SBCC) theories is still not widely explored. This study aims to explore the role of digital health crowdfunding within SBCC and social service delivery, especially in the Indonesian context. We used a systematic literature review method based on the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. We analyzed 45 articles published between 2015 and 2024, covering key theoretical texts on SBCC, crowdfunding, and empirical research. The findings show that Indonesian crowdfunding websites like Kitabisa.com already incorporate SBCC elements. These include agenda-setting, social norms activism, community involvement, and trust-based persuasion. This study shows a clear convergence between SBCC strategies and crowdfunding techniques. However, we also note several challenges like donor fatigue, inequality, and risks to vulnerable communities. Finally, we developed an integrated theoretical model. This model works as a heuristic tool rather than an empirical framework, which is the main theoretical contribution of this paper.

How AI-Generated Allegory Functions In Digital Propaganda

Rino Andreas, Romi Iriandi Putra, Mahesa Maulana — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This article examines how AI-generated allegory functions in digital propaganda through a semiotic analysis of the short video White Eagle Alliance vs. The Persian Cats. Produced by China’s CCTV, the video reframes contemporary geopolitical conflict involving Iran, the United States, and its allies through animal allegory, stylized visual narration, and cinematic battle imagery. Using Roland Barthes’ semiotic framework and a qualitative multimodal analysis of fifteen selected scenes, this study investigates how meaning is constructed at the levels of denotation, connotation, and myth. The findings show that the video operates not merely as a representation of conflict but as a myth-making device that organizes political meaning through binaries of aggression and resistance, domination and defense, imperial threat and heroic struggle. Animal allegory functions to soften explicit political messaging while enhancing emotional appeal, ideological clarity, and audience accessibility. The study argues that AI-generated allegorical propaganda marks a significant shift in digital political communication, where automated visual production and symbolic storytelling converge to produce persuasive wartime narratives in highly shareable media formats.

Gendered Meanings in AI-Mediated Customer Communication: Female Chatbots in Banking and Telecommunications

Intan Fitranisa, Dimas Ramadhiansyah — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

AI-mediated customer communication has become increasingly prevalent in service industries, particularly through the adoption of chatbots as digital communication agents between organizations and consumers. Beyond their functional role in delivering information and assistance, chatbots often incorporate gendered identities that shape how users interpret and engage with digital interactions. In Indonesia, banking and telecommunications companies widely employ female-coded chatbots as part of their customer communication strategies. This study explores consumers’ perceptions of female chatbots and examines how gendered meanings are negotiated within AI-mediated customer communication. Using a qualitative exploratory approach, in-depth interviews were conducted with consumers who had experience interacting with female chatbots in the banking and telecommunications sectors. The findings reveal that participants generally perceive female chatbots as extensions of frontline customer service communication in digital environments. While participants demonstrated varying interpretations of female chatbot representations, they frequently associated these chatbots with characteristics such as friendliness, patience, and helpfulness. The findings also suggest that the predominance of female-coded chatbots may contribute to the normalization and potential reinforcement of gender stereotypes linking women to service-oriented and emotional labor roles. This study contributes to communication scholarship by highlighting how gendered meanings are embedded, interpreted, and negotiated within AI-mediated customer communication.

Conceptual Metaphors In Ritual Communication: The Case Of The Dayak Iban Wedding Mantra

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The Dayak Iban wedding mantra in the Sampi Melah Pinang ritual constitutes a ritual communication practice that constructs cultural meanings concerning married life through metaphorical language. This study analyzes the conceptual metaphors contained in the mantra and examines their functions within the communication context of the wedding ritual. The data, consisting of mantra texts, were obtained from ritual speech events in Kapuas Hulu Regency, West Kalimantan, through observation, in-depth interviews, documentation, and transcription. The analysis was conducted through the identification of metaphorical expressions based on lexical meanings, the mapping of concrete experiences onto abstract concepts, and interpretation within the situational context of ritual communication. The findings identified ten metaphorical expressions organized into eight categories of conceptual metaphors, namely Bonding Metaphor, Protection Metaphor, Journey Metaphor, Life Direction and Control Metaphor, Harmony Metaphor, Family Renewal Metaphor, Social Legitimization Metaphor, and Holistic Well-Being Metaphor. The findings indicate that concrete experiences such as binding, fencing, journeys, direction, physical conditions, kinship, and health are systematically projected onto the abstract concept of married life. Within the ritual context, the mantra is delivered in a sacred setting by a customary leader to the bride and groom, their families, and the community as a medium for invoking blessings and social legitimization through ritual language that reinforces cultural values. Thus, the mantra functions as a collective conceptual construction that represents the way the Dayak Iban community understands and organizes married life.

Women's Leadership Communication in Project-Based Creative Organizations

Firsty Aisyah Izzati, Bambang Dwi Prasetyo, Fitri Hariana Oktaviani — Sat, 20 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Research on women's leadership has predominantly focused on gender stereotypes, structural barriers, and leadership challenges, while limited attention has been given to how women leaders use communication to manage organizational relationships in project-based work environments. This study examines how women leaders practice communication in managing organizational relationships within Event Organizer and Wedding Organizer organizations operating in the creative sector in Samarinda, Indonesia. Using a qualitative approach informed by a critical paradigm, data were collected through semi-structured in-depth interviews with eleven women leaders and analyzed using Critical Thematic Analysis (CTA). The findings reveal four interconnected communication practices: building and maintaining relational connections, adapting communication across organizational relationships, managing emotional dynamics in project work, and maintaining coordination through flexible communication. These practices enable women leaders to develop trust, negotiate stakeholder expectations, sustain collaboration, and coordinate project activities across dynamic organizational environments. The study contributes to organizational communication scholarship by demonstrating that leadership communication functions not only as a mechanism for coordination but also as a relational process for sustaining organizational relationships across temporary and continuously changing stakeholder configurations. The findings further contribute to women's leadership scholarship by highlighting how gendered expectations are communicatively negotiated through everyday organizational interactions within project-based creative organizations.

Analyzing Multi-Actor Communication Pathways In Higher Education Choice Among Islamic Senior High School Students In Malang, Indonesia

Ahmad Nabil Ali, Maulina Pia Wulandari, Bambang Dwi Prasetyo — Sat, 20 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Higher education choice is not merely an individual decision based on academic interest or institutional promotion, but a socially negotiated process involving parents, school counselors, and peers as important reference groups. However, existing studies on university choice often emphasize individual rational choice and marketing persuasion, while paying limited attention to how reference groups shape legitimacy and final decision-making. This study examines how Islamic senior high school students in Malang City communicate and negotiate with their key reference groups during the higher education selection process. Using a qualitative approach, data were collected through focus group discussions with 10 final-year students, complemented by semi-structured interviews involving 2 guidance and counseling teachers from two Islamic senior high schools with contrasting institutional and socioeconomic backgrounds, and 1 external tutoring teacher to enrich the data. The data were analyzed thematically with the assistance of NVivo. The findings produce the Multi-Actor Iterative Communication (MAIC) Model of University Choice, reframing recruitment not as a linear marketing funnel, but as a circular, recursive communication system. The model concludes that prospective students' choices only solidify into enrollment when marketing stimuli successfully align personal aspirations with parental validation, data-driven school guidance, performance analytics from external tutors, and horizontal peer exploration. Ultimately, this study provides higher education marketers with a novel marketing framework to strategically navigate a distributed network of community gatekeepers rather than targeting isolated consumers.

A Dynamic Narrative Communication System in Indonesian B2B Manufacturing: Constructing Identity, Legitimacy, and Strategic Integration

Asih HandayantI, Erik Hadi Saputra — Sat, 20 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

In the contemporary digital communication landscape, manufacturing organizations face mounting pressure to move beyond episodic messaging toward sustained, systems-level narrative frameworks. This study investigates how strategic storytelling functions as the operational core of a Dynamic Narrative Communication System (DNCS) within the Marketing Public Relations (MPR) activities of a business-to-business (B2B) manufacturing company in Indonesia. The research employed a qualitative case study methodology, collecting data through in-depth interviews with key communication practitioners, systematic analysis of digital documents, and multi-platform observational studies across corporate websites, social media channels, and regulatory submission materials. Findings demonstrate that storytelling in this context operates across three interconnected dimensions: organizational identity construction, social legitimacy acquisition in relation to government regulatory compliance, particularly Indonesia's green industry standards and domestic component requirements,and strategic communication integration. The DNCS model proposed herein conceptualizes narrative not as a discrete tactical instrument but as a dynamic systemic mechanism through which manufacturing firms maintain reputational stability and adaptive capacity amid shifting government policies and evolving digital environments. This research contributes a theoretically grounded, empirically validated framework that extends storytelling scholarship into the underexplored domain of B2B manufacturing communication and government-industry relations.

Digital Communication Ethics from a Sufi Perspective: The Takhalli-Tahalli-Tajalli Model Against Information Disorder

Moh Saifulloh, Samsuriyanto — Sun, 21 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This research aims to formulate a digital communication ethics framework by transposing the classical Sufi model of Takhalli (cleansing), Tahalli (beautifying), and Tajalli (manifestation) from Imam Al-Ghazali and Imam Al-Jailani. In the contemporary cyber era, conventional legal-structural and techno-centric paradigms function merely as reactive, external controls that fail to address the psychological motives behind information disorder. This study benefits digital society by shifting the mitigation paradigm from reactive containment to internal, preventive self-regulation. Methodologically, this study adopts an interpretivist paradigm using a qualitative critical literature review integrated with Gadamerian Philosophical Hermeneutics. The results demonstrate that the framework operates as a closed-loop cybernetic system. Specifically, Takhalli purges kizb, hasad, and riya’. This qualifies Tahalli to implement two-tiered behavioral interventions via Sidq and Rahmah. Ultimately produces Tajalli—manifesting as “Digital Ihsan” anchored by Digital Muraqabah. Although platform anonymity poses structural limitations at the cyber-deindividuation threshold, this model permanently breaks the supply chain of toxic information.

A Bibliometric Analysis of Digital Transformation in Local Governments: Trends, Themes, and SDG Perspectives (2015–2025)

Muhammad Kholis , Nurmandi, Herman, Younus, Wahdania — Sun, 21 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Digital transformation at the subnational level is essential for improving public services and supporting SDGs. Yet it still faces constraints, including infrastructure gaps, limited digital capacity, and weak intergovernmental coordination. This study conducts a bibliometric analysis of 106 Scopus-indexed articles published between 2015 and 2025 using PRISMA and Bibliometrix (RStudio) to map research development, citation trends, and major thematic clusters. Results show a 39.55% annual growth rate, involvement of 420 authors, 62 publication sources, and 20.75% international collaboration. The dominant keyword clusters include digital transformation, local government, e-government, digital readiness, and SDGs. Although global research increasingly links digitalization with sustainability goals, policy fragmentation and unequal technological preparedness remain significant barriers. The study emphasizes the need for coordinated, capacity-building, and inclusive digital governance strategies to strengthen the impact of digital transformation on regional sustainable development.

TikTok Affordances as Identity Infrastructure for Generation Z

ian Fawziah Aulia R, Mrs., Dr. — Sun, 28 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

TikTok has become a central arena in which Generation Z users construct and negotiate digital identity, yet research on how its affordances relate to this process remains fragmented across platform-feature, algorithmic, and self-presentation perspectives. This article presents a systematic literature review that examines how TikTok affordances have been conceptualized, how existing studies explain their role in Generation Z digital identity construction, and what theoretical, methodological, and empirical gaps remain. Following PRISMA 2020 guidance, 37 peer-reviewed studies published between 2021 and 2026 were retrieved from Scopus and a supplementary Google Scholar search, appraised using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool, and analyzed through thematic synthesis, yielding five descriptive and three analytical themes. The review finds that algorithmic affordances (recommendation, personalization, and visibility) dominate the literature, while social affordances remain comparatively under-examined. It identifies three mechanisms linking affordances to identity: algorithmic recognition, the negotiation of visibility and platform power, and community-based affirmation and cultural meaning-making. On this basis, the review reconceptualizes TikTok as an identity infrastructure rather than merely a platform for self-presentation. This reconceptualization is offered as a conceptual proposition rather than a demonstrated effect. Because 33 of the 37 studies rely primarily on qualitative and self-reported accounts of user experience, and relatively few directly examine recommendation systems or their effects over time, the evidence is better suited to explaining how users perceive and interpret algorithmic influence than how recommendation systems objectively shape identity. The literature is also concentrated on marginalized communities. Advancing the field, therefore, requires observational, computational, and longitudinal research extending beyond the populations studied to date.

Muslim Women's Religious Self-Representation on Social Media: A Systematic Review

Ariani Himalia Putri, Desi Dwi Prianti — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This systematic literature review examines how Muslim women's religious self-representation is conceptualized across social media studies. Employing the SPIDER framework and PRISMA 2020 guidelines, the study synthesized 35 Scopus-indexed peer-reviewed articles published between 2016 and June 2026. Data were analyzed through thematic synthesis and structured coding covering visual religious identity (VRI), self-presentation, platform context, and theoretical framing. The analysis identified five thematic clusters: (1) hijab, modest fashion, and visual aesthetics; (2) religious identity negotiation and digital self-presentation; (3) influencers, branding, activism, and self-representation; (4) platform and community studies; and (5) contextual and cross-platform studies. Findings demonstrate that Muslim women's visual religious identity is not a fixed expression of religiosity, but a contextual representational practice negotiated through visual signs, platform affordances, audience expectations, and moral evaluation. Although self-presentation appeared in 32 of 35 studies, VRI was explicitly central in only 17 studies, revealing a significant conceptual gap. The review further identifies an underexplored area concerning dual-account practices and post-pesantren Muslim women's digital identity. These findings extend Hall's theory of representation into platformed digital religion contexts and suggest directions for future empirical research.

Fandom Communication And Participatory Culture In Digital Platforms: A Systematic Literature Review

Sena Luktridiansyah Pawelloi, Reza Safitri — Fri, 03 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study aims to examine informal fandom as a form of interdisciplinary communication within digital media, synthesizing how participatory culture and platform-mediated fan practices have been conceptualized across the academic literature. The findings benefit scholars in communication science, media studies, and platform studies by providing an integrated analytical framework that bridges participatory culture theory, audience studies, and digital media research. This study employed a qualitative Systematic Literature Review method using three Boolean search strings on the Scopus database, limited to English-language peer-reviewed articles published between 2015 and 2026. Following PRISMA-based screening, 40 articles were included in the final thematic synthesis. Four analytical themes were identified: communicative community formation in digital fandom, participatory fan production as audience communication practice, platformed fan communication and digital labor, and contestation as communicative authority negotiation. A key tension identified is the contradiction between participatory communicative agency and platform power, including algorithmic visibility, datafication, and commercialization of fan communication. This review positions informal fandom as an analytical bridge within interdisciplinary communication scholarship, linking participatory culture theory, audience studies, and platform-mediated communicative practices. The findings contribute operational indicators for future empirical research on informal fandom, including loose affiliation, repeated digital interaction, affective attachment, platform-mediated visibility, participatory production, and symbolic meaning-making as measurable dimensions of audience communication in digital platforms.

ORAL Literature As A Tourism Communication Strategy In Singkawang City

Ayu Annisa, Chairil Effendy, Antonius Totok Priyadi; Khairullah — Fri, 03 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study examines oral literature as a form of cultural communication that underlies literary tourism in Singkawang City, framing the inquiry within the field of interdisciplinary communication science. Using a descriptive qualitative method, data were gathered through observation and interviews with storytellers, destination managers, and local government officials, supplemented by recording, transcription, and editing techniques. The findings reveal six folktales: Batu Belimbing, Gunung Poteng, Sibohe Waterfall, Bagak Sahwa Village, Tjhia Family House, and Batu Burung Beach, all classified as legends that function as narrative communication foundations for their respective tourist sites. Analysis of the communication context surrounding these narratives shows that intergenerational oral transmission is declining, with storytellers aged 29 to 73, and that the communicative occasions for these stories are shifting from family-based communication to more institutionalized forms such as theatrical performances or tourist-oriented communication encounters. The messages embedded in these oral narratives convey ecological, moral, and cultural values that function as communicative guidance for tourism management. Infrastructural assessment of the six destinations reveals significant disparities in how effectively each site communicates its narrative heritage to visitors: Batu Belimbing and Tjhia Family House are comparatively well-managed, while Gunung Poteng and Sibohe Waterfall remain critically underdeveloped. The study argues that positioning oral literature as a communication strategy within literary tourism offers a culturally grounded and sustainable path for heritage communication and tourism development in multiethnic border cities, contributing to interdisciplinary dialogue between communication science and cultural tourism studies.

One Piece Flag as Symbolic Communication in Indonesian Digital Discourse

Kamila Izzatun Nisa’, Reza Safitri — Fri, 03 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study examines the One Piece flag controversy on X during Indonesia’s Independence Day period as a case of symbolic communication in digital public discourse. Rather than treating the debate merely as an anime fandom issue or viral digital expression, this article analyzes how Indonesian digital publics evaluated the legitimacy of a borrowed popular culture symbol in relation to national symbolism. Using a qualitative digital discourse design within a critical constructivist paradigm, the study analyzed 473 focused X posts selected from 1,596 crawled public posts and six semi-structured interviews with X users representing supportive, opposing, and conditional positions. Stuart Hall’s theory of representation and encoding/decoding was used as the main analytical framework, supported by the concepts of symbolic reappropriation and transcultural identity. The findings reveal three interpretive patterns. First, some users legitimized the One Piece flag by translating it into a language of public criticism, solidarity, and social anxiety. Second, some users delegitimized the symbol as foreign, fictional, mistimed, or improper within the Indonesian national symbolic space. Third, some users negotiated its legitimacy by accepting the flag only when it remained visually and symbolically subordinate to the Red-and-White flag. The study argues that the controversy reflects a platform-mediated process of symbolic legitimacy-making, where meaning is not only produced but also publicly tested, corrected, rejected, and limited through digital interaction. This article contributes to communication studies by showing how representation, civic expression, and national belonging are negotiated through popular culture symbols in digital public discourse.

Digital Health Communication Between Healthcare Providers and Patients During COVID-19: A Narrative Review

Dela Riadi, Dewi Nirmala Sari — Fri, 03 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the transformation of healthcare communication by shifting interactions between healthcare providers and patients from face-to-face encounters to digitally mediated communication. Digital communication platforms, including telemedicine, remote patient monitoring (RPM), virtual wards, mobile health applications, and messaging services, became essential channels for exchanging health information, monitoring patient conditions, providing consultation, and supporting continuity of care. This narrative review aimed to synthesize the existing evidence on digital health communication between healthcare providers and patients during COVID-19, with a particular focus on communication channels, information exchange, patient engagement, communication quality, and communication barriers. A purposive literature search was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, ProQuest, Embase, and other relevant sources. Twenty-six studies were included and analyzed using a narrative thematic approach. The findings indicate that digital health communication enhanced timely information exchange, facilitated continuous interaction between healthcare providers and patients, improved patient engagement in self-management, and strengthened communication throughout home-based care. The review also identified several communication challenges, including disparities in digital literacy, unequal access to communication technologies, privacy concerns, reduced interpersonal interaction, and variations in communication practices across healthcare settings. Overall, digital health communication has become a fundamental component of interdisciplinary healthcare communication by supporting accessible, patient-centered, and continuous communication during public health emergencies. Future implementation should strengthen communication quality, promote digital inclusion, and develop communication strategies that foster effective patient–provider interaction beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.

Public Communication in Collaborative Public Management for Blue Economy Governance in Pangkajene and Kepulauan Regency

Rezal Hadi Basalamah, Andi Rahmat Nizar Hidayat, Muhammad Ishak — Sat, 04 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study analyzes public communication in collaborative public management for blue economy governance in Pangkajene and Kepulauan Regency, Indonesia. The study responds to the need to understand blue economy development not only as fisheries, aquaculture, tourism, or marine economic growth, but also as a governance process involving coordination, participation, equity, inclusiveness, and accountability. A qualitative field case study was conducted from February to May 2026 in Mattiro Bombang, Mattiro Kanja, and Sabalana Villages. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, field observations, focus group discussions, and policy documentation involving 29 informants from local government, village governments, fisher groups, aquaculture farmers, coastal women, micro-enterprises, academics, and community leaders. Data were analyzed through thematic coding, data condensation, data display, and conclusion drawing, supported by triangulation, member checking, and informant anonymization. The findings show that local government has established public communication programs, Musrenbang, public consultations, fisher group development, coordination with extension officers, and monitoring mechanisms. However, these instruments require stronger proposal follow-up, wider communication reach, transparent beneficiary selection, and social accountability. Public communication functions as a managerial instrument for information dissemination, dialogue, aspiration absorption, trust building, policy clarification, and feedback. The study proposes the Good Equity and Inclusiveness Collaborative Blue Economy Governance framework as an initial empirically informed framework consisting of island-based diagnosis, inclusive cross-actor forums, a benefit equity matrix, co-production programs, and adaptive accountability. The framework requires further testing, contextual adaptation, and policy validation before operational adoption by local government institutions in practice.

Financial Communication of Global Commodity Price Information and Indonesian Stock Market Dynamics

Albet Rio Wijaya, Alni Rahmawati — Sun, 05 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Financial communication plays an important role in conveying global economic information that influences investor perceptions and market behavior. Among the most prominent forms of financial information are changes in global commodity prices, particularly oil and gold prices, which serve as information signals for investment decision-making. This study examines the relationship between global commodity price information and Indonesian stock market dynamics using the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) approach. Annual data covering the period 1990–2025 were employed to investigate both long-run and short-run relationships among oil prices, gold prices, and the Indonesian stock market. The Augmented Dickey-Fuller (ADF) test indicates that all variables are integrated of order one, while the Bounds Test confirms the existence of a long-run equilibrium relationship. The long-run estimation results reveal that oil price information has a positive and statistically significant effect on stock market dynamics, whereas gold price information has a negative but statistically insignificant effect. In the short run, contemporaneous changes in gold prices do not significantly affect stock market performance, while lagged changes in gold prices have a positive and significant effect. The error correction term is negative and statistically significant, indicating a rapid adjustment toward long-run equilibrium following short-run disturbances. These findings suggest that investors respond differently to commodity-based information signals depending on the type and timing of information received. This study contributes to the interdisciplinary field of financial communication by highlighting how global commodity price information is reflected in stock market dynamics and investor responses.

Symbolic Validation in Digital Football Transfer Communication on X: A Semantic Network Analysis of “Here We Go!”

Ardhi Fuady, Reza Safitri — Sun, 05 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study examines the semantic structure of the phrase “Here We Go!” in football transfer communication on X using Semantic Network Analysis. Grounded in Communication Network Theory, the study explores how semantic relationships contribute to the construction of collective meaning and information credibility. Data were collected from 1,632 posts during the 2025 European summer transfer window and analyzed using NodeXL. The analysis included network metrics, degree centrality, word-pair analysis, and Clauset–Newman–Moore clustering. The findings indicate that the semantic network is dominated by concepts related to transfer confirmation, particularly deal, agreed, authorization, and sealed. Five thematic clusters were identified, representing transfer confirmation, contractual information, media dissemination, tactical aspects, and the core phrase itself. The results suggest that “Here We Go!” functions as a mechanism of symbolic validation through which audiences collectively recognize the credibility of football transfer information.