PUBLIC RESPONSE IN THE MEDIA TOWARD POLICY COMMUNICATION ON CHILD PROTECTION IN THE DIGITAL SPACE

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the effectiveness of the Indonesian government's communication strategy in socializing the "PP Tunas" policy through the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Komdigi). The study employs a qualitative approach integrated with quantitative content analysis of 850 media publications during the period of March 1 to 8, 2026. The findings indicate that the government successfully secured a first-mover narrative advantage, with a 1,600 percent surge in publications at the time of the official announcement. The child protection narrative dominated 92 percent of official press releases and was fully adopted by conventional media with a neutral-informative tone. This moral framing strategy proved effective in mitigating public resistance and suppressing technical criticisms regarding VPN usage, which only appeared at 1.7 percent on social media. The alignment of messages between state authorities and the mass media significantly reinforced national agenda-setting. The study concludes that mastering the information arena from the initial phase is an absolute prerequisite for the success of restrictive digital regulations. The contribution of this study provides a foundation for the development of institutional reputation management and information accountability in future digital governance.