The Transformation of Criticism into a Digital Mob and the Role of the Bandwagon Effect in Cyberbullying Against the Indonesian Police on Instagram

Authors

  • Arie Agustyanto Yos Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Kepolisian, Jakarta, Indonesia
  • Joko Setiono Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Kepolisian, Jakarta, Indonesia
  • Ilham Prisgunanto Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Kepolisian, Jakarta, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.38035/gijlss.v3i2.485

Keywords:

Cyberbullying, Bandwagon Effect, Cyber Law, Instagram, Police, Legal Protection

Abstract

The phenomenon of cyberbullying against members of the Indonesian National Police (Polri) on social media, especially Instagram, shows an escalation pattern from public criticism to massive collective digital attacks. This phenomenon is often triggered by a psychological effect known as the bandwagon effect, where netizens tend to join in the flow of mass insults without understanding the context of the event as a whole. This study aims to analyze how the bandwagon effect contributes to the escalation of cyberbullying against police officers and examine the legal protection available based on current laws and regulations. The method used is a normative legal approach by examining Law No. 1 of 2024 concerning the Second Amendment to the ITE Law, the New Criminal Code (Law No. 1 of 2023), and various internal police regulations, including Perpolri No. 7 of 2022 concerning the Code of Professional Ethics. The results of the analysis show that although there are legal instruments that can be used to ensnare perpetrators of cyberbullying, there are no norms that specifically regulate digital collective actions, such as the bandwagon effect. The main challenges in law enforcement include proving the perpetrator's intention, limited resources in digital investigations, and the gap between the development of communication technology and legal responses. Therefore, a more comprehensive cyber regulatory reform is needed, and an increase in the digital literacy of the community to create a healthy, fair, and civilized public space, including in the relationship between society and state institutions such as the Police.

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Published

2025-08-25

How to Cite

Yos, A. A., Setiono, J., & Prisgunanto, I. (2025). The Transformation of Criticism into a Digital Mob and the Role of the Bandwagon Effect in Cyberbullying Against the Indonesian Police on Instagram. Greenation International Journal of Law and Social Sciences, 3(2), 463–471. https://doi.org/10.38035/gijlss.v3i2.485

Issue

Vol. 3 No. 2 (2025): (GIJLSS) Greenation International Journal of Law and Social Sciences (June - August 2025)

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Copyright (c) 2025 Arie Agustyanto Yos, Joko Setiono, Ilham Prisgunanto

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