TEMPO.CO, Jakarta -Social media conversations in Indonesia about the recent disaster in Sumatra have been dominated by negative sentiment, driven largely by criticism of the government’s delayed response and calls for the disaster to be declared a national emergency, according to social media analytics firm Drone Emprit.
Ismail Fahmi, founder of Drone Emprit, said public discourse has been marked by recurring themes of anger and frustration.
“The main issues are consistent: outrage over deforestation, the politicization of aid, the ‘Java-centric’ narrative, and delays in declaring a national disaster status,” he said in a statement published on the Drone Emprit website on December 10, 2025.
How the Analysis Was Conducted
The findings are based on monitoring seven social media platforms between November 24 and December 7, 2025. The analysis mapped trends, sentiment, and online conversations using keywords such as #PrayForSumatra, #PrayForAceh, and #AllEyesOnSumatra.
The hashtag #PrayForSumatra gained traction as reports of casualties and widespread infrastructure damage increased. Public attention nationwide focused mainly on Aceh, West Sumatra, and North Sumatra, the provinces hardest hit by the disaster.
According to Ismail, the issue generated more than 304,000 mentions and nearly 974 million interactions. Coverage by online news outlets peaked on November 28, when President Prabowo Subianto issued official instructions related to the disaster.
However, social media conversations intensified several days later, on December 3, following public anger over the alleged politicization of rice aid and viral reports from residents in isolated areas.
Platform-by-Platform Sentiment
On X, formerly known as Twitter, negative sentiment accounted for 60.2 percent of conversations, compared with 24.6 percent positive and 15.2 percent neutral sentiment.
Public reactions varied across platforms. On Facebook, many users expressed appreciation for President Prabowo’s on-the-ground presence.
In contrast, Instagram was dominated by criticism, particularly over perceived disparities between disaster handling in Sumatra and Java, as well as demands for the resignation of Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni.
Negative sentiment across platforms centered on deforestation, accusations of “Java-centric”—a term referring to perceived government bias toward Java—delays in declaring a national disaster, and the distribution of aid branded with the president’s image.
Users also criticized the slow response of officials, their absence from affected areas, and statements seen as lacking empathy.
“Positive sentiment on X mainly focused on the president’s instructions, his visits to disaster zones, and the large-scale deployment of the military and police to reach isolated communities,” Ismail said.
Strong Criticism on Threads and Instagram
Threads recorded the highest proportion of negative sentiment at 72.8 percent, with users accusing the government of neglect, highlighting delays in emergency response, and raising allegations of illegal mining and logging.
Comparisons were also drawn with the government’s response during former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s administration after the 2004 Aceh tsunami.
Instagram followed closely, with 69 percent negative sentiment. Users demanded a national disaster declaration, called for the forestry minister’s resignation, and pointed to corporate responsibility for environmental damage.
Positive sentiment on Instagram stood at just 17.1 percent, reflecting appreciation for community-led relief efforts, including Rp17 billion (about US$1.1 million) in donations and helicopter-based logistics distribution in Tapanuli Tengah, North Sumatra.
YouTube Anger and TikTok’s Visual Impact
On YouTube, criticism focused on officials deemed negligent. About 42.9 percent of users expressed anger toward the South Aceh regent for performing the umrah pilgrimage during the disaster. Others criticized slow aid delivery and used stark language to describe isolated areas.
TikTok stood out as an exception, with sentiment nearly evenly split. Positive sentiment reached 45.3 percent, slightly higher than the 44.7 percent negative sentiment.
“TikTok was dominated by visual content showing helicopter pilots rescuing victims and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka traveling by trail motorcycle to isolated areas,” Ismail said. “Visuals spoke louder here.”
Shifting Public Mood
Facebook also recorded relatively stronger positive sentiment, with 31.7 percent of users praising President Prabowo’s engagement with evacuees, the distribution of aid, and the deployment of naval vessels.
However, negative sentiment remained dominant at 50.5 percent, driven by scenes of looting, criticism of forestry policies, and calls for accountability.
Ismail noted that negative sentiment peaked on December 3, largely due to the politicization of aid and viral images of suffering residents.
The tone of online discussions began to improve after December 7, following direct assurances from national leaders regarding housing reconstruction and infrastructure rehabilitation.
Public anger first surged on November 28, he added, after officials initially denied links between environmental damage and the disaster. Tensions began to ease after December 4, when the government shifted away from a defensive stance and took more visible action on the ground.
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