Research Article
Virtual Opinion Leader: The Emergence of Boy BNR Figure in #tolakpermen20 Movement
@INPROCEEDINGS{10.4108/eai.9-10-2019.2291115, author={Rinda Aunillah Sirait and Nuryah Asri Sjafirah and Dandi Supriadi}, title={Virtual Opinion Leader: The Emergence of Boy BNR Figure in \#tolakpermen20 Movement}, proceedings={Proceedings of the 1st Padjadjaran Communication Conference Series, PCCS 2019, 9 October 2019, Bandung, West Java, Indonesia}, publisher={EAI}, proceedings_a={PCCS}, year={2020}, month={1}, keywords={virtual opinion leader boy bnr kicaumania community \#tolakpermen20 adaptive structuration theory}, doi={10.4108/eai.9-10-2019.2291115} }- Rinda Aunillah Sirait
Nuryah Asri Sjafirah
Dandi Supriadi
Year: 2020
Virtual Opinion Leader: The Emergence of Boy BNR Figure in #tolakpermen20 Movement
PCCS
EAI
DOI: 10.4108/eai.9-10-2019.2291115
Abstract
The development of social media in Indonesia seems to encourage the emergence of some opinion leaders. Since the rise of social debates on social media, several figures become new influencers in the community. These figures are not famous persons like artists or public officials. In the range of July-September 2018, Boy BNR's popularity surged because of various posts containing protests over the existence of singing birds in the Regulation of Minister of Environment and Forestry No. P.20/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/6/2018. In Kicaumania’s perspective, Boy BNR was a hero. By observing social media activities on Boy BNR’s Facebook account, focus group discussions within Kicaumania community members, and an interview with the Head of the Regional Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) Ciamis III, this study maps Boy BNR’s role as the leader of virtual opinion in the #tolakpermen20 movement. The analysis was done by using Marshall Scott's Poole adaptive structuring theory. This article describes the existence of Boy BNR as the leader of the #tolakpermen20 movement and defines the message conveyed through Facebook. Along with the influence that has been developed through social media, the #tolakpermen20 movement succeeded in forcing the Minister to exclude five singing birds from the list of protected plants and animals.