Cultural Incompatibility in Digital News Adoption: Social Inequality and Political Information Dissemination in Indonesia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63919/ajmc.v1i2.26Keywords:
Culture, Technology, Politics, Participation, MediaAbstract
This study focuses on how digital technology and culture mutually influence each other in shaping patterns of political participation in contemporary society. It is grounded in the reality that changes in the political landscape today are determined not only by developments in information technology but also by how local culture responds to and shapes the use of such technology. Using a qualitative approach through literature review, this research examines the dynamics of information technology development especially digital media in transforming political behavior and highlights the crucial role of cultural values and social norms in this process. The literature analyzed includes topics related to digital activism, the role of social media in political movements, and the responses of different social groups to technology adoption. The findings indicate that digital media has great potential to expand political participation space. However, this impact is not universal; it heavily depends on the surrounding social and cultural contexts. While technology enables more open and rapid political communication, factors such as digital access disparities and cultural diversity may limit the effectiveness of such participation. This study enriches the understanding of the interaction between digital media and local culture in political contexts and provides insight into how technology acts not just as a tool but also as a space shaped by and shaping the political cultural meanings of contemporary society.
Downloads
References
Afandi, A. (2023). Implications of the digital age on social engagement and political participation in the context of civic education. Jurnal Pendidikan Amartha, 2(2), 112-120. https://doi.org/10.57235/jpa.v2i2.666
Ahmad, N. (2023). Adaptations of the news media and social media logics by Indonesian political parties’ leaders and presidential candidates after 2004 Indonesian presidential election. Jurnal Komunikasi Ikatan Sarjana Komunikasi Indonesia, 7(2), 423–434. https://doi.org/10.25008/jkiski.v7i2.644
Ahn, M. (2010). Adoption of e-communication applications in U.S. municipalities: The role of political environment, bureaucratic structure, and the nature of applications. The American Review of Public Administration, 41(4), 428-452. https://doi.org/10.1177/0275074010377654
Aisyah, D., Lokopessy, A., Naman, M., Diva, H., Manikam, L., Adisasmito, W., … & Kozlakidis, Z. (2023). The use of digital technology for COVID-19 detection and response management in Indonesia: Mixed methods study. Interactive Journal of Medical Research, 12, e41308. https://doi.org/10.2196/41308
Aisyah, D., Setiawan, A., Lokopessy, A., Faradiba, N., Setiaji, S., Manikam, L., … & Kozlakidis, Z. (2024). The information and communication technology maturity assessment at primary health care services across 9 provinces in Indonesia: Evaluation study. JMIR Medical Informatics, 12, e55959. https://doi.org/10.2196/55959
Alfiani, F. (2024). Regulation and literacy must strengthen digital transformation. AJESH, 3(1). https://doi.org/10.46799/ajesh.v3i1.213
Arighi, A., Fumagalli, G., Carandini, T., Pietroboni, A., Riz, M., Galimberti, D., … & Scarpini, E. (2021). Facing the digital divide in a dementia clinic during the COVID-19 pandemic: Caregiver age matters. Neurological Sciences, 42(4), 1247-1251. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-020-05009-w
Bahram, M. (2025). Reorientasi peran hukum dalam menghadapi disrupsi teknologi: Studi normatif tentang regulasi digital di Indonesia. SINERGI: Jurnal Riset Ilmiah, 2(3), 1691–1702. https://doi.org/10.62335/sinergi.v2i3.1078
Budiana, M. (2023). Political culture and society's political orientation in the digital age. Jurnal Multidisiplin Sahombu, 3(01), 108-115. https://doi.org/10.58471/jms.v3i01.1923
Candra, A., Suryadi, K., Rahmat, R., & Nurbayani, S. (2021). Digital citizenship infrastructure to foster the reinforcement of national identity in Indonesia. Kultura-Spo?ecze?stwo-Edukacja, 19(1), 37-50. https://doi.org/10.14746/kse.2021.19.3
Ciptarianto, A. (2022). E-wallet application penetration for financial inclusion in Indonesia. International Journal of Current Science Research and Review, 5(2). https://doi.org/10.47191/ijcsrr/v5-i2-03
Clark, C., Akdas, Y., Wilkins, C., Rhee, K., Johnson, K., Bates, D., … & Dankwa?Mullan, I. (2021). Techquity is an imperative for health and technology business: Let’s work together to achieve it. Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, 28(9), 2013-2016. https://doi.org/10.1093/jamia/ocab103
Darmawan, D., Kustandi, C., & Syah, R. (2019). Web-based information openness to increasing political participation in Indonesia. International Journal of Multicultural and Multireligious Understanding, 6(3), 642. https://doi.org/10.18415/ijmmu.v6i3.820
Deursen, A., & Dijk, J. (2013). The digital divide shifts to differences in usage. New Media & Society, 16(3), 507-526. https://doi.org/10.1177/1461444813487959
Devi, A., Firmansyah, I., Yuniarto, A., Hamid, B., & Nawawi, M. (2023). Determinant factor analysis of financial technology adoption among halal sector microenterprises in Indonesia. Amwaluna Jurnal Ekonomi Dan Keuangan Syariah, 7(2), 347-368. https://doi.org/10.29313/amwaluna.v7i2.12546
Fairlie, R. (2007). Explaining differences in access to home computers and the internet: A comparison of Latino groups to other ethnic and racial groups. Electronic Commerce Research, 7(3-4), 265-291. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10660-007-9006-5
Goodfellow, R. (2011). Literacy, literacies and the digital in higher education. Teaching in Higher Education, 16(1), 131–144. https://doi.org/10.1080/13562517.2011.544125
Hadi, A. (2018). Bridging Indonesia’s digital divide: Rural-urban linkages? Jurnal Ilmu Sosial Dan Ilmu Politik, 22(1), 17. https://doi.org/10.22146/jsp.31835
Hafel, M. (2023). Digital transformation in politics and governance in Indonesia: Opportunities and challenges in the era of technological disruption. Society, 11(2), 742-757. https://doi.org/10.33019/society.v11i2.577
Handayani, P., Yazid, S., Bressan, S., & Sampe, A. (2020). Information and communication technology recommendations for the further development of a robust national e-health strategy for epidemics and pandemics. Jurnal Sistem Informasi, 16(2), 31-42. https://doi.org/10.21609/jsi.v16i2.979
Hasfi, N., Gono, J., & Rakhmad, W. (2020). Internet access and the potential in facilitating online political communication of disabled. Jurnal Aspikom, 5(1), 36. https://doi.org/10.24329/aspikom.v5i1.468
Husni, H., Gaol, F., Supangkat, S., & Ranti, B. (2022). Digital twin concept for Indonesia digital government information technology governance. International Journal Science and Technology, 1(2), 45-52. https://doi.org/10.56127/ijst.v1i2.146
Ibrahim, M., Sukandar, R., & Nusantari, L. (2023). Indonesia's economic advancement through leveraging the geopolitical rivalry and geostrategic between the USA and China in the Indo-Pacific region. Jurnal Pertahanan Media Informasi TTG Kajian & Strategi Pertahanan Yang Mengedepankan Identity Nasionalism & Integrity, 9(2), 379. https://doi.org/10.33172/jp.v9i2.8823
Isdendi, R., Nanda, I., & Suganda, M. (2023). The role of Indonesia’s digital citizenship generation in the realization of ethics in cyberspace. Proceedings of the International Conference on Digital Citizenship, 514-525. https://doi.org/10.2991/978-2-38476-096-1_57
Kryvoshein, V. (2023). Transformation of political perceptions in the age of information technologies: Analyzing the impact on political beliefs. 20-32. https://doi.org/10.57125/fs.2023.09.20.02
Lahiri, R., & Ratnasiri, S. (2007). Concerning inequality, technology adoption, and structural change. International Advances in Economic Research, 13(4), 527-528. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11294-007-9116-9
Lang, V., & Hillmert, S. (2016). Differential trends in households’ connection to the internet: An actor-centered explanation. Rationality and Society, 28(2), 141-171. https://doi.org/10.1177/1043463116633148
Lee, J., & Hidayat, D. (2019). Digital technology for Indonesia’s young people. Medienpädagogik Zeitschrift Für Theorie Und Praxis Der Medienbildung, 35, 20-35. https://doi.org/10.21240/mpaed/35/2019.10.17.x
Li, D. (2023). The challenge and the countermeasure of "information cocoon" to the integration of excellent regional culture into ideological and political education in colleges and universities. International Journal of Education and Humanities, 7(3), 76-80. https://doi.org/10.54097/ijeh.v7i3.6004
Liu, X., & Xu, W. (2018). Adoption of ride-sharing apps by Chinese taxi drivers and its implication for equality and wellbeing in the sharing economy. Chinese Journal of Communication, 12(1), 7-24. https://doi.org/10.1080/17544750.2018.1524392
Lucarelli, A., Fuschillo, G., & Chytková, Z. (2020). How cyber political brands emerge: A socio-material analysis of the Italian Five Star Movement and the Czech Pirate Party. European Journal of Marketing, 55(4), 1130-1154. https://doi.org/10.1108/ejm-04-2019-0336
Manacorda, M., & Tesei, A. (2020). Liberation technology: Mobile phones and political mobilization in Africa. Econometrica, 88(2), 533-567. https://doi.org/10.3982/ecta14392
Maulana, R., & Bainus, A. (2022). Penggalangan civic literacy melalui organisasi kemahasiswaan dan pandangan mengenai tantangan demokrasi di Indonesia. Demokrasi, 1(3), 54-76. https://doi.org/10.36269/dmkr.v1i3.647
Meidyasari, S. (2024). The impact of digital economy in driving economic growth and development in Indonesia. Interdisciplinary Journal and Humanity (Injurity), 3(11), 777-783. https://doi.org/10.58631/injurity.v3i11.1306
Novianti, A., & Asmara, A. (2023). The development of digital technology and its impact on Indonesia’s economic growth. International Journal of Research and Review, 10(9), 297-319. https://doi.org/10.52403/ijrr.20230932
Park, Y. (2014). My whole world’s in my palm! The second-level divide of teenagers’ mobile use and skill. New Media & Society, 17(6), 977-995. https://doi.org/10.1177/1461444813520302
Rialisnawati, Rahmatunnisya, H., Dopo, M. R., Kalsum, N., & Husnan, L. H. (2024). A decade of consumer behavior research in Indonesia: Cultural, technological, and economic influences. Scientia. Technology, Science and Society, 1(3), 33–42. https://doi.org/10.59324/stss.2024.1(3).02
Rifaid, R., Abdurrahman, A., Baharuddin, T., & Kusuma, B. (2023). Smart city development in the new capital city: Indonesian government plans. Journal of Contemporary Governance and Public Policy, 4(2), 115-130. https://doi.org/10.46507/jcgpp.v4i2.141
Santos, M., Sequeira, T., & Ferreira?Lopes, A. (2017). Income inequality and technological adoption. Journal of Economic Issues, 51(4), 979-1000. https://doi.org/10.1080/00213624.2017.1391582
Serikzhanova, A., Nurtazina, R., Serikzhanova, I., Bukharbay, B., & Taitorina, B. (2024). Evolving political cultures in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan: Trends and new paradigms. Journal of Ethnic and Cultural Studies, 11(3), 1-24. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejecs/1914
Sriyono, S., Andjani, S., & Irawan, M. (2023). Evaluation of fintech's impact on financial inclusion in Indonesia: A case research on the use of digital payment services. The Management Journal of Binaniaga, 8(2), 91-102. https://doi.org/10.33062/mjb.v8i2.32
Sumrahadi, A., Maliki, M., & Aryodiguno, H. (2024). Navigating the data stream: The intersection of digital politics and Indonesian foreign policy in the era of big data. Journal of Law and Politics, 5(1), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.69648/RYWO5712
Towner, T., & Dulio, D. (2011). An experiment of campaign effects during the YouTube election. New Media & Society, 13(4), 626-644. https://doi.org/10.1177/1461444810377917
Wahyuni, I., Sanjaya, G., Istiqlal, H., Sulistiyowati, D., Mutamakin, A., & Sitompul, T. (2024). Pentingnya komponen infrastruktur sistem dan TIK dalam mendukung transformasi digital di rumah sakit. Journal of Information Systems for Public Health, 8(3), 8. https://doi.org/10.22146/jisph.80639
Wang, Y., Xu, G., Cao, J., Chen, Y., & Wu, J. (2025). Does digital literacy affect farmers’ adoption of agricultural social services? An empirical study based on China Land Economic Survey data. PLOS ONE, 20(4), e0320318. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0320318
Weiß, D. (2019). Round hole, square peg: Social inequalities and the political legitimization of health technology in Norway, a critical discourse analysis. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.2.10411/v1
Weiß, D., Rydland, H., Øversveen, E., Jensen, M., Solhaug, S., & Krokstad, S. (2018). Innovative technologies and social inequalities in health: A scoping review of the literature. PLOS ONE, 13(4), e0195447. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0195447
Wibowo, N., Wahyudi, E., Ismawati, L., Hermawan, A., & Wardana, L. (2024). Opportunities and challenges of digital transformation for creative economy development: Study literature review. International Journal of Business Law and Education, 5(1), 1369-1380. https://doi.org/10.56442/ijble.v5i1.569
??????, ?., ??????????, ?., Svetlov, K., & Malkov, N. (2019). Communication technologies for promoting political leaders online. International Journal of Engineering and Advanced Technology, 9(1), 4543-4548. https://doi.org/10.35940/ijeat.a1788.109119
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Nuzul Fadhli Ramadhan

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.