Buzzer

{{Politics}}
'''Buzzer''' (often stylized as '''BuzzerRp''', "Rp" indicates rupiah, the Indonesian currency) is a term used in [[Indonesia]], designates a [[Astroturf|paid shill]]. While the term is popularly used to [[Shill gambit|discredit political opponents]], there are actual people hired by certain [[politician]]s or [[political party|political parties]] who engage in online activism for [[propaganda]] and [[fake news]] operations. Buzzers are most prominently used by the [[right-wing]] segment of the [[political spectrum]], namely [[secular]]-[[nationalism|nationalists]] (pro-government), [[xenophobia|nativists]], [[Nostalgia|Suharto-nostalgists]] and [[Islamist]]s (pro-opposition). 
 
Popular platforms employed by buzzers include [[Twitter]], [[Facebook]], [[YouTube]], and [[Instagram]]. Buzzers come in all flavors: team members, lone wolf, cyber experts, bots, anonymous accounts, or even a [[celebrity]] who gets invited into the presidential palace.<ref name="Reuters">[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-indonesia-election-socialmedia-insigh/in-indonesia-facebook-and-twitter-are-buzzer-battlegrounds-as-elections-loom-idUSKBN1QU0AS In Indonesia, Facebook and Twitter are 'buzzer' battlegrounds as elections loom] ''Reuters''. Retrieved May 21, 2020.</ref><ref name="buzzer"/> In one instance, buzzers were offered by a political party $500 for a single post.<ref>[https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-08-13/indonesian-buzzers-paid-to-spread-propaganda-ahead-of-election/9928870 Indonesia's 'buzzers' paid to spread propaganda as political elite wage war ahead of election] ''ABC''. Retrieved May 21, 2020.</ref>

The usage of buzzers became widespread after the 2014 presidential election when two different [[populist]] politicians, {{wpl|Joko Widodo}} ([[secular]]-[[nationalist]] who looks a lot like a [[Barack Obama|particular somebody]]) battled against {{wpl|Prabowo Subianto}} ([[xenophobia|nativist]], backed by [[Islamist]]s). The abuse of buzzers has become a serious social problem in Indonesia since then, as they are a detriment to [[democracy]] due to their efforts to turn any issues into [[partisan]] politics, hindering [[evidence]]-based discussions. Most recently, Indonesia has become paralyzed against the [[COVID-19]] [[pandemic]] due to the politicization of literally every single health policy.<ref name="buzzer">[https://www.thejakartapost.com/academia/2020/03/21/covid-19-doesnt-care-about-politics-how-online-buzzers-infect-indonesias-democracy.html Politics of pandemics: How online 'buzzers' infect Indonesia's democracy, jeopardize its citizens] ''The Jakarta Post''. Retrieved May 21, 2020.</ref> A similar phenomenon can be observed in other Southeast Asian countries.<ref name="Reuters"/>

==Some known buzzers==
===Pro-government===
*'''Denny Siregar''': A pro-Widodo-government buzzer<ref name="conversation">[https://theconversation.com/beyond-fake-news-social-media-and-market-driven-political-campaigns-78346 Beyond fake news: social media and market-driven political campaigns] ''The Conversation''. Retrieved May 21, 2020.</ref> with minor-celebrity status, who owns [https://twitter.com/Dennysiregar7 Twitter] and [https://www.facebook.com/dennyzsiregar/ Facebook] accounts with each more than 700,000 followers. He constantly plays down the danger of COVID-19, and once called people who alarmed the COVID-19 pandemic as "animals."<ref>[https://twitter.com/Dennysiregar7/status/1234304909983375360?s=20] (In Indonesian)</ref>
*'''Eko Kuntadhi''': A pro-Widodo-government buzzer who often appears on a [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1dx8HeC0DmLKAMun2fQlMA YouTube account] with 600,000 subscribers. A vehement defender of the ruling government, he labels all leftist critics as [[SJW]] and opposition as Islamists. 

===Pro-opposition===
*'''Muslim Cyber Army (MCA)''': An anonymous collective which operated a nationwide network of cyber-[[jihadist]]s who spread [[hoax]] and propaganda against the ruling government and [[Chinese|ethnic-Chinese]] people by labeling them [[communists]]. They owned more than 100 bots and semi-automated accounts, have links to the military, and even incited bounty-huntings. The group was busted in 2018, leading to the arrests of its members.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/mar/13/muslim-cyber-army-a-fake-news-operation-designed-to-bring-down-indonesias-leader Muslim Cyber Army: a 'fake news' operation designed to derail Indonesia's leader] ''The Guardian''. Retrieved May 21, 2020.</ref>
*'''Jonru Ginting''': A pro-opposition blogger<ref name="conversation"/> who spread [[hate speech]] during 2016 Islamist protest against the [[Christian]]-Chinese governor of Jakarta Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok). He was arrested in 2017.<ref>[https://en.tempo.co/read/911922/police-finally-arrest-jonru-ginting-after-investigation Police Finally Arrest Jonru Ginting after Investigation] ''Tempo''. Retrieved May 21, 2020.</ref>

==Buzzer glossary==
You can safely assume anyone who seriously uses these terms is a partisan hack who has no intention of evidence-based political discussions.
*'''''Cebong''''': Literally means "tadpoles." Derogatory term toward supporters of Joko Widodo, Ahok, or the ruling party {{wpl|Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle}} (PDIP). Because apparently Widodo raises frogs in his presidential palace. Used by Prabowo-supporters, Suharto-nostalgists, and Islamists.<ref name="yay2"/>
*'''''Kadrun''''': Literally means the [[Middle Eastern]] "dabb lizard" (shorthand of ''kadal gurun''). Derogatory term toward supporters of current Jakarta governor {{wpl|Anies Baswedan}} and Islamists. Because Islamists in Indonesia today often dress like Arabs for no reason, and [[racism|Anies is an ethnic-Arab Indonesian]]. Used by mostly PDIP nationalists and Widodo-supporters.<ref name="Yay">[https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2019/11/19/the-rise-of-kadrun-and-togog-why-political-polarization-in-indonesia-is-far-from-over.html The rise of 'kadrun' and 'Togog': Why political polarization in Indonesia is far from over] ''The Jakarta Post''. Retrieved May 22, 2020.</ref>
*'''''Kampret''''': Literally means "small bat." Derogatory term toward supporters of Prabowo Subianto (in 2019 election), Suharto-nostalgists, and Islamists. ''Kampret'' is a general derogatory term as well, and it entered buzzer glossary from the name of Prabowo's coalition in 2014, KMP. Used by mostly PDIP nationalists and Widodo-supporters.<ref name="yay2">[https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2019/03/30/what-is-cebong-kampret-indonesian-politics-jokowi-prabowo-election.html Of tadpoles and small bats: How name calling deepens Indonesia's great political divide] ''The Jakarta Post''. Retrieved May 22, 2020.</ref>
*'''[[SJW]]''': Same meaning and usage as in the West, "Social Justice Warriors." Derogatory term toward leftists in general. Used by all right-wing camps.
*'''''Togog''''': The name of some evil figure in ''wayang'' traditional art. Derogatory term toward supporters of Joko Widodo, Ahok, or PDIP. Because [[racism|Widodo is an ethnic-Javanese and wayang is a Javanese art]]. Used by mostly Anies-supporters, Suharto-nostalgists, and Islamists.<ref name="Yay"/>

==See also==
*[[Astroturf]]
*[[Conflict of interest]]
*[[Post-truth]]
*[[Populism]]
*[[Internet troll]]

==References==
{{reflist|2|80%}}

[[Category:Indonesia]]
[[Category:Internet kooks]]
[[Category:Jargon]]
[[Category:Political terms]]
[[Category:Propaganda]]
[[Category:Trolls]]

Categories: Indonesia, Internet kooks, Jargon, Political terms, Propaganda, Trolls