Semarang, May 7, 2025 — The Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP) of Diponegoro University (UNDIP) held an international guest lecture titled “Social Media and Politics in Southeast Asia,” featuring renowned academic Prof. Merlyna Lim from Carleton University, Canada. This event is part of FISIP UNDIP’s initiative to promote the internationalization of education and strengthen its academic contribution to digital politics and global democracy studies.

The lecture was held in the FISIP UNDIP Theatre Room and attended by around 150 participants, including students, faculty, and academic staff from various departments within FISIP UNDIP. The event focused on the critical role of social media in political developments in Southeast Asia, including social implications, digital algorithms, and the challenges of democracy in the age of global connectivity.

In his opening remarks, Vice Dean I of FISIP UNDIP, S. Rouli Manalu, S.Sos., MCommSt., Ph.D., emphasized that social media is not a neutral space for political communication. The algorithms within it play a significant role in shaping political narratives and public opinion. Meanwhile, Vice Rector IV of UNDIP, Wijayanto, S. IP., M. Si., Ph.D., provided an introduction to the theme of the lecture, highlighting that digital democracy is not merely a transition from offline to online systems, but an innovation that enriches the democratic process itself. He also pointed out how phenomena like “buzzers” and social media algorithms can impact democratic practices, both positively and negatively.

As the Canada Research Chair in Digital Media and Global Network Society, Prof. Merlyna Lim is widely recognized as an expert in media, politics, and the digital society. In her presentation on her book “Social Media and Politics in Southeast Asia”, she discussed the lack of literature on social media and democracy, which served as the background for her book. This book aims to address how social media is now used in political dialectics and how algorithms better represent users’ identities. A memorable quote from Prof. Lim during her presentation was, “Algorithms never make mistakes, but what is manipulated is the feeling.”

In addition to Prof. Lim’s presentation, the event also included a discussion session with responses from FISIP UNDIP academics, including Dr. Yuwanto, M.Si., a lecturer from the Department of Politics and Government. As the first respondent, Dr. Yuwanto emphasized that social media plays a role as a tool for democratization but can also exacerbate political polarization through the spread of misinformation. He specifically highlighted how the book provides an intriguing exploration of the algorithms that shape today’s political landscape. The second response was given by Dr. Nurul Hasfi, M.Si., a lecturer from the Department of Communication. Dr. Hasfi emphasized the value of the book as a reference for researchers dealing with digital democracy issues and focused on its contributions to theoretical, practical, and social fields.

After the guest lecture, the event continued with a public discussion on the theme “Understanding Algorithm Politics in Social Media.” This session allowed participants to exchange opinions with Prof. Lim, moderated by Hanifa Maylasari, S.IP., M.Sos. The discussion focused on the binary effects found in social media, comparing it to a double-edged sword. The public session urged the general public to be cautious in using social media.

The discussion concluded with a call to both academics and the public to actively advocate for algorithm transparency and engage in collective action to maintain civil spaces as part of a healthy digital democracy.