Nezar asserts digital platforms determine information received by the public

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Deputy Minister of Communication and Digital, Nezar Patria, stated that digital platforms now play an increasingly significant role in determining the flow of information received by the public.

According to Nezar, this shift is occurring because journalistic products from media outlets are now widely distributed through social media platforms. Consequently, the evolution of social media is affecting the relationship between mass media and the audience.

“One thing that is fundamentally changing in the communication landscape is that media is losing its audience. Now, the audience is controlled by platforms because all journalistic products reach the audience via social media platforms,” Nezar said during a discussion at Atma Jaya Catholic University, Jakarta, on Thursday.

“So we can imagine, we do not actually choose the news we read; in reality, the algorithm chooses for us,” he added.

Nezar compared this to news consumption patterns during the era of conventional mass media. At that time, the public obtained information from various sources such as newspapers, television, radio, or news websites.

According to Nezyg, the powerful role of algorithms also makes the public prone to receiving information that aligns with their interests and habits. This phenomenon is known as an ‘echo chamber’.

“Therefore, what we like will always come to us, and we are enveloped, enclosed by the content that we like,” he said.

Nezar noted that social media can now be used to shape specific agendas and influence how the public views certain issues.

He stated that the information continuously received by the public can ultimately shape their perceptions of an issue.

“There is a lot of agenda-setting being conducted using social media platforms for specific purposes,” he concluded.