Social Media Communication Filters On Political Activists' Identities

Blezingky Kaleb Daniel; Siska Armawati Sufa; Nur’annafi Farni Syam Maella; Didik Sugeng Widiarto

doi:10.55227/ijhess.v5i3.2041

Authors

Blezingky Kaleb Daniel Dr. Soetomo University
Siska Armawati Sufa Dr. Soetomo University
Nur’annafi Farni Syam Maella Dr. Soetomo University
Didik Sugeng Widiarto Dr. Soetomo University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55227/ijhess.v5i3.2041

Keywords:

Algorithmic Filtering; Digital Activism; Network Society Theory; Social Capital Theory; Social Network Analysis (SNA)

Abstract

This study examines how the digital network structure on platform X (formerly Twitter) shapes the identity and visibility of activists through algorithmic and relational political filtering mechanisms. Departing from the transformation of political communication in the digital era, this study highlights the role of algorithmic filters, confirmation bias, and echo chambers in shaping the discourse of activism. Using a quantitative approach with Social Network Analysis (SNA), data was collected through activism hashtags such as #MeToo, #BLM, #ClimateStrike, and #FreePalestine, resulting in 1,357 nodes and 955 edges. The results show an average network degree of 0.704, density of 0.001, very high modularity (0.973), and average path length of 1.009. This indicates a fragmented network structure that is locally cohesive and has minimal cross-connections between communities. Actors such as @barengwarga and @korbanmulyonoto became central nodes with a discourse amplification function. However, betweenness centrality was almost zero, indicating the absence of bridges between ideological groups, reinforcing segmentation. This study confirms the theories of Network Society (Castells), Social Capital Theory, and Platform Governance, and highlights that digital power now rests on network positions and algorithmic logic. This study concludes that the visibility and identity of activists on the X platform are jointly shaped by the interaction between network architecture, algorithmic regulation, and social capital dynamics

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