National Broadcasting System: Guarding or Controlling Public Space?

The concept of public space, popularized by Jurgen Habermas, signifies a neutral ground for the exchange of cultural, political, economic, and social ideas, ideally free from the influence of government, political parties, or business interests. While Habermas focused on bourgeois public spaces, the concept extends to broader public engagement in discussing reality.

In today's world, communication technology and media platforms like WhatsApp, TikTok, and YouTube significantly impact culture, society, and politics. Indonesia, as a democracy, requires robust deliberation to foster understanding and prevent societal division. This deliberation relies on rational communication ethics, avoiding excessive emotion, slander, or personal attacks.

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Public space is a neutral zone where the government, political parties, business groups, or other interest groups should be avoided.

However, freedom of expression on social media presents a significant control challenge. Unlike broadcast media (TV, radio) governed by the Broadcasting Law and print media by the Press Law, social media is regulated by the ITE Law, which remains controversial due to a lack of clear oversight for internet citizens. Research indicates a prevalence of hate speech on social media, including insults, fake news, provocation, defamation, blasphemy, and incitement.

Consequently, social media often becomes a space for justification and judgment, disregarding moral and societal norms, failing to serve as a healthy democratic arena. Simultaneously, Habermas's view of digital public space being commercialized for capital interests adds another layer to this complex issue.

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Social media has become a space for justification and judgment, without considering aspects of morality and societal norms, social media cannot be called a healthy democratic arena for social media account users.