Cyberpolitics and Constitutional Governance in Indonesia's Digital Democracy

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic transformed political communication patterns and encouraged candidates to adopt campaign strategies based on digital technologies.
Objective: This study analyzes cyberpolitics in the political communication of the Gibran Rakabuming Raka–Teguh Prakosa ticket in the 2020 Surakarta mayoral election, focusing on campaign planning, message design, media strategy, voter segmentation, and digital political communication.
Methods: This study employs a qualitative descriptive-exploratory case study within a constructivist paradigm. Data are analyzed interpretively to examine communication strategies, symbolic interactions, image formation, and political meanings constructed through digital spaces.
Results: The findings show that cyberpolitics served as an adaptive strategy for overcoming restrictions on face-to-face campaigning during the pandemic. It was implemented through social media, Virtual Campaign Boxes, social activities, and digital content portraying the candidates as young, modern, responsive, technologically adaptive, and close to the community. The Virtual Campaign Box emerged as an important innovation by integrating digital communication with direct community interaction and reaching voters with limited social media access. Digital media also strengthened political branding, legitimacy, candidate visibility, and the reach of political messages. The integration of technology, political symbols, voter segmentation, interaction, and political networks contributed to the electoral success of the Gibran–Teguh ticket.
Conclusion: Cyberpolitics has evolved beyond an alternative campaign strategy into an integral component of contemporary political communication.