Social Network Analysis of Information Flow and Opinion Formation on Indonesian Social Media: A Case Study of Youth Violence

Abstract

This study examines the dynamics of information dissemination and opinion formation in Indonesian social media through a comprehensive analysis of a high-profile youth violence case. Using social network analysis (SNA), we analyzed 264,155 activities from 83,097 accounts on platform X (formerly Twitter) to understand the patterns of information flow, cluster formation, and inter-group interactions. The analysis revealed four distinct clusters with unique characteristics: a dominant support cluster (40.12%), a context-focused cluster (26.93%), a mainstream media cluster (14.14%), and a peripheral engagement cluster (6.05%). This study found significant patterns in information dissemination, with retweets dominating at 68% of total activities and strategic hashtag usage at 28%. Cross-cluster interactions comprised 20% of total activities, challenging assumptions about echo chambers in digital discourse. The network showed high resilience with 85% path reliability and demonstrated a consistent multiplier effect with a 1:5:15 ratio in message amplification. Bridge nodes (10–15% of accounts) played crucial roles in facilitating cross-cluster dialogue and maintaining network cohesion. The temporal evolution of discourse showed distinct phases, from initial factual reporting to later systemic analysis, with each phase characterized by different engagement patterns and narrative focuses. These findings extend existing theoretical frameworks while highlighting the need for more culturally nuanced approaches to understanding digital discourse in contexts of collectivist cultural dimensions. This study’s results have significant implications for digital literacy education, social media intervention strategies, and youth violence prevention efforts, suggesting the need for sophisticated, network-aware approaches that consider both structural dynamics and cultural contexts.

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