Is viral the new criteria in research for policymaking? – Academia – The Jakarta Post

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While discussions on social media is one way to engage the public in policymaking, the powers that be should not wait for a problematic policy to go viral, and instead involve public participation before as part of the process.
s a user of almost all social media platforms, I have been lately hit by the fact that many policies have been changed or official actions taken because they had gone made viral and were discussed (or gossiped about) among netizens. It appears that social media has developed into a powerful platform for influencing governmental decisions, as evidenced by trending hashtags and viral posts.
This was seen in a recent event involving an apparently casual complaint on X, where users were asking questions about a customs policy and importing equipment intended for disabled students at a special school. What at first seemed like a harmless post gained momentum and led to serious policy considerations from a public servant with the power to make changes.
“Ada masukan konkret?” (any constructive input) read a response from Finance Ministry spokesman Yustinus Prastowo, which might have sounded like a joke to X users but was not. It was a genuine question from a public servant who actually has the power to design, make and change policy.
However, amid this flurry of online activism, one cannot help but question the efficacy of such impromptu policy adjustments. There are many research methods that can be used at different stages of the policymaking process: quantitative, qualitative or mixed, you name it.
Does open discussion of a viral post that contains complaints, insults and mockery also count?
Research-based policymaking is a crucial concept in the development of effective laws and regulations. Research is necessary to develop well-informed, practical policies that are sensitive to societal demands.
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Any policy not based on research will have a faulty design that can trigger public resistance and opposition, as happened in the case of the policy on customs and import taxes at the airport.
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