Kriswanda Krishnapatria
PhD
Asia Institute
Kriswanda (he/him) is a graduate researcher at the University of Melbourne. His project explores the intersections of online communities, political polarisation, and identity, focusing on Kaskus, Indonesia's largest discussion forum. As a Melbourne Research Scholarship recipient, he is committed to fostering inclusive and critical dialogue in virtual spaces. During his free time, Kriswanda enjoys playing Dota 2 while maintaining a scholarly interest in game studies.
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Thesis
Examining Political Polarisation in Contemporary Indonesian Cyberspace: A Netnographic Study of the Kaskus Online Discussion Forum
Since the late 1990s, Indonesia's political landscape has experienced significant shifts, marked by persistent divisions among supporters of presidential candidates, notably in the 2014, 2019, and 2024 elections. This study examines Kaskus, Indonesia's largest discussion forum, to explore the impact of negative political labelling. Using netnography, the research investigates historical and sociocultural factors, Kaskusers' alignments, and the consequences of polarisation for online and offline democratic participation. The hypothesis suggests that political polarisation and digital culture in Kaskus contribute to silencing voices and societal division, aiming to propose strategies for critical dialogue in virtual communities.