Indonesia’s 2023 social media roller coaster: bad behaviour in Bali, blasphemy, and a rising star

In 2023, the social media landscape in Indonesia was a reflection of its rich cultural diversity, presenting a dynamic blend of startling, contentious, and uplifting narratives. From the tourist turmoil in Bali and blasphemy arrests on TikTok to the inspiring journeys of the nation's spirited youth, these are some of the narratives that dominated the Indonesian internet, reflecting a year of intense emotion and spirited discourse.

Bali, a popular tourist destination, was still in recovery mode for most of 2023, with many on the island eager to restore the number of tourists to pre-pandemic levels. However, a series of viral incidents involving visitors to the island exhibiting shocking behavior, many involving disrespect for Bali's cultural and spiritual beliefs, led to heated debate on social media over whether Bali should be focused on improving the quality of tourists instead. These incidents include a Russian tourist getting deported from the island for taking a nude photo while draped across a tree considered holy to the Balinese; three Russians who were arrested for dancing in and disrespecting a sacred Hindu temple; and a German tourist who received mental health treatment after she stripped naked in a different temple. In response, Bali officials issued an official list of dos and don'ts for tourists and created a task force aimed at weeding out misbehaving and 'thin-pocketed' tourists 'who make trouble' in order to rehabilitate the island's image.

In January, internet users in Southeast Asia's biggest economy were stunned by a growing number of online beggars who were taking advantage of the gift-giving features offered by TikTok. Many of them were elderly women who would pour dirty river water over themselves, on demand, in exchange for virtual gifts. After one such video went viral, people began questioning whether the women were doing the stunts of their own accord or if they were being exploited by family members. One of the women, Raimin, said she was not forced to do the stunt, she simply needed the money. This sparked condemnation in Jakarta, with social minister Tri Rismaharini issuing a circular urging the public to report similar videos to local authorities. The ministry of communications and informatics eventually asked TikTok to take down the mud bath videos, expressing deep concern over the videos and urging users to report similarly inappropriate content.