The Role of Disinformation in Creating Polarization and Conflict in the 2024 Indonesian Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections

Disinformation played a significant role in creating polarization and conflict in the 2024 Indonesian elections. Hoaxes, as a form of disinformation campaign, undermined the democratic process by spreading false information to damage political opponents and influence public opinion. Trends in hoaxes during the 2024 elections shaped public opinion, deepened polarization, and, in some cases, triggered social conflict. Hoaxes are partisan phenomena: groups tend to label information as hoax or not depending on their political position. The government, which should play a central role in countering hoaxes, has not been effective in fulfilling this responsibility. Overall, hoaxes are crucial drivers of polarization on social media and, in certain contexts, escalate into real-world social conflict.