Local Government’s Weakness in Using Social Media as a Medium of Public Communication

Abstract

Traffic jams which often happen in cities result in lack of spaces for pedestrians. Thus, building pedestrian areas becomes one of priorities in developmental program of city. In order to ensure the success of program, social media is used to communicate development and maintenance program of pedestrian areas to people. However, local government of Bekasi seemed failing to relay those messages to people. Thus the present research aims to analyze how Bekasi government used social media to relay development and maintenance news related to pedestrian areas in Bekasi. The present research used a descriptive qualitative method through observation, in-depth interviews, and documentation. Data reduction and triangulation were conducted using Nvivo 12 software. The latter was used to perform data coding and form main categories using theories and concepts. The results show social media accounts such as Facebook and Instagram have been used to communicate their programs such as initial development of pedestrian areas, development process, and maintenance to people. However, their usage was not maximized as Bekasi’ government was considered less responsive when answering questions regarding pedestrian areas. This led to a speculation that social media is only used as a ‘smoke and screen’ for government’s events. The present research recommends Bekasi’ government to commit in renewing their messages continually and answering questions quickly as people will think their government as more communicative and caring people when the responses are given quickly.