Government Public Relations Must Master Algorithms to Build Public Trust

Deputy Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs (Wamenkomdigi) Nezar Patria has asserted that mastering social media algorithms is a crucial competency for government public relations (PR) officers to build and maintain public trust. In a statement confirmed in Jakarta on Wednesday, Nezar assessed that government communication can no longer rely solely on delivering information, but must also be able to understand how filter bubbles, echo chambers, and the dynamics of digital spaces work so that policy messages reach the public effectively. “The goal of government PR is to maintain trust in the government. How do we maintain that trust? We must be able to convince the public that the government is competent, honest, fair, and responsible in fighting for the public interest,” Nezar said. Therefore, government PR needs to understand the logic of social media to formulate appropriate communication strategies within a platform-driven digital ecosystem. “If we have studied the logic of social media, we can win the narrative, step by step,” Nezar explained. Success in digital communication is also determined by the ability to select the right actors, craft messages with appropriate diction, and seize the momentum to shift the direction of public conversation. Listening skills and critical thinking are essential assets for identifying information gaps that can be filled with fact-based narratives. Beyond understanding social media dynamics, Nezar encouraged government PR to strengthen data analysis capabilities to map actors, narratives, and issue propagation as a basis for more targeted communication strategies. “So, it is important to equip ourselves with instruments that can sharpen our ability to convey messages more scientifically,” he said. Nezar emphasised that public trust is the most important capital in government communication. Therefore, every communication strategy must be directed at maintaining the government’s credibility through the delivery of information that is honest, fair, responsible, and aligned with the public interest.