Cyber Activist Cohesion through ^Add Yours^ Feature in #AllEyesonRafah Content
Ferra Martian, Nabilla Anasty Fahzaria, Safina Arina Faza, Nazwaluna Camisha Zakaria

Universitas Islam Bandung

Abstract

The media plays an important role as a vessel to represent what the public thinks. The circulation of various information about the Palestinian genocide was also followed by a lot of social support that was echoed to support the Palestinian people, especially the Rafah area in the Add Yours post ^All Eyes on Rafah^. The massive cyber activist movement has occurred since October 7, 2023, when Israel again intensified its attacks on Palestine, especially the Rafah area. Cohesiveness is an important aspect in a group because it functions as a unifying tool that helps create an effective group. The polarization of content on Instagram is in contrast. Since November 2023, there have been more than 1,050 cases of deletion and suppression of content on Instagram and Facebook uploaded by Palestinians and their supporters. This algorithm opens a protest through the Add Yours feature which is shared on the Instagram Story page. The research method used is qualitative with a constructivist paradigm Cyberphenomenology approach. The data collection technique was through interviews with 22 people as representatives of cyber activists in Indonesia. The results of the study show the development of cyber activist cohesiveness through the Add Yours feature in ^breaking down^ the dominant power algorithm with a background of similar thoughts, feelings, and rules. The findings are examined through the Muted Group Theory of how cohesiveness is formed to fight dominant groups in suppressing (counter attack) or silencing ideas, opinions, and discourses from marginalized groups.

Keywords: Cohesiveness, Cyber Activist, Fitur Add Yours, Instagram

Topic: New Media: Impacts, Benefits, and Barriers