Tackling Pocong Hoax Terror: It’s Not Just About Catching the Perpetrators

KOMPAS.com - The phenomenon of pocong terror that has repeatedly appeared in society is considered insufficient to handle merely by catching the perpetrators or the creators of the hoax.

Sosiolog Rakhmat Hidayat notes that such phenomena will continue to recur if society remains easily convinced and spreads information without verification.

“The steps to confronting such phenomena are not enough merely to dismantle or provide clarifications,” he said in an interview with Kompas.com via WhatsApp, Friday (22 May 2026).

According to him, a long-term solution to deal with mystical terror that goes viral in society and on social media is to strengthen social literacy and digital literacy among the public. He also urges the public not to be easily drawn into provocative narratives that trigger mass panic.

“People should not immediately share videos or messages that have not been verified; cultivate fact-checking and not be easily swayed by provocative narratives,” he said.

According to Rakhmat, social panic can actually magnify the effects of terror from issues that are not necessarily true. He notes that the culture of sensationalism on social media makes horror-tinged information more easily viral and believed by the public.

“The culture of sensationalism on social media remains high,” he said.

Therefore, he believes that the biggest challenge in the digital era is not merely the existence of mystical issues, but how the public manages fear and information rationally.

The authorities must move quickly to provide official clarifications, maintain open communication with the public, and conduct patrols to keep the sense of security, as well as take action against individuals who deliberately sow public unrest,” he said.

Rakhmat says public education approaches should run in parallel with reprisal measures against those who deliberately spread unrest.