MAKING THE WORLD SMALL: A CLOSED FB GROUP AND PEACE ACTIVISTS IN INDONESIA

ABDUL ROHMANPHD CANDIDATE

WEE KIM WEE SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATIONNANYANG TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY, SINGAPORE

SOCIAL MEDIA AND SOCIAL MOVEMENTS Closed Facebook Group

I argue that closed FB groups are used to limit outsiders’ access to information in the time of conflict, making the world of the insiders small. Subsequently, trust is determinant for information sharing activities in the small world.

Source: http://www.wowshack.com/6-eye-opening-maps-of-indonesia-you-probably-havent-seen-before/

Context of the study

• Nearly four hundred thousand people live in an area of 377km² (approximately half of Singapore).

• Malay-Ambonese language is common, with some Dutch influence, and Bahasa Indonesia is widely spoken

• Mountainous and coastal topographies divide Ambon into upper and lower neighborhoods.

• The Muslims normally lived in the lower, whereas the Christian in the upper neighborhood.

Both Christianity and Islam came through trading activities Religions were used to resonate loyalty during the Dutch colonialism.

• Approximately 5000 deaths • Nearly 10000 people are

internally displaced

THE PRESENCE OF RUMORS IN THE AMBON CONFLICT

1999 to 2005

face-to-face

2011

mobile communication

devices

to date (post-conflict)face-to-face and mediated communication platforms have been used to rebuild trust between Christian and Muslim communities

METHODS

Data collection Filterinfo Filedwork

Interview Observation

THE CLOSED FB GROUP: FILTERINFO

The members 2; 10%

1; 5%

4; 19%

5; 24%

3; 14%

6; 29%

Art group GovernmentMedia NGOOthers & Unspecified University

The activities (24/9/2011 to 24/5/2012)

9/24/11

10/3/11

10/12/11

10/21/1

1

10/30/11

11/8/11

11/17/11

11/26/1

1

12/5/11

12/14/1

1

12/23/1

1

1/1/1

2

1/10/12

1/19/1

2

1/28/12

2/6/1

2

2/15/12

2/24/1

2

3/4/1

2

3/13/1

2

3/22/1

2

3/31/12

4/9/1

2

4/18/12

4/27/1

2

5/6/1

2

5/15/1

2

5/24/1

20

1020304050

Dates

activ

ities

(Pos

t + C

omm

ents

)

Theory of Life in the Round (Chatman, 1999)

THEORETICAL GUIDANCE

FINDINGS: CLOSED FB AS A SMALL WORLD

Small world

a space for individuals to

share the same concerns and

opinions.

Worldview

a collective view that

rumors had facilitated the

conflict

a shared viewpoint as

the citizens of Ambon

Social types

The founder, group

administrators, and members

Social norms

rules for the group

members to share

information

NORMS IN INFORMATION SHARING

Exchanging contacts (i.e. mobile numbers, FB accounts)

Conflict-sensitive

information

Face to face interactions (i.e. checking locations, talking to witnesses)

The Facebook Group (Filterinfo)

MAKING THE WORLD SMALL: THE ROLE OF TRUST

“We have known each other. Not everyone can be added [to the group] … [to be added] s/he must be very trustworthy. [We] questioned who posted what; could the information be trusted? If not really [trustworthy], we checked it again … If there was inaccurate information posted, we deleted it straight away … There were about twenty members … we know each other very well… Or, at least, we have met in person” (Participant R).

IMPLICATIONS

The findings are potential to be used to: address criticisms toward the use of commercial social media platforms for

socio-political changes inspire the creation of non-commercial platforms for civic engagements and

social movements.