The Dynamics of Public Trust in Political Institutions in the Age of Disinformation Among Social Media Users in Indonesia

Lestari Puspitasari; Rangga Azzahra; Ratna Gunawan

Authors

Lestari Puspitasari Universitas Diponegoro Author
Rangga Azzahra Universitas Diponegoro Author
Ratna Gunawan Universitas Padjadjaran Author

Keywords:

Public trust, Political institutions, Disinformation, Social media users

Abstract

This study aims to examine the dynamics of public trust in political institutions in the age of disinformation among social media users in Indonesia. Using a qualitative phenomenological approach, the study explores how users experience, interpret, verify, and respond to political information circulating across digital platforms. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, limited digital observation, and documentation involving active social media users aged 18 years and above in several urban contexts in Indonesia. Thematic analysis revealed four major findings: selective trust toward political institutions, reliance on interpersonal verification networks, emotional fatigue caused by repeated exposure to disinformation, and conditional trust recovery through transparent and responsive institutional communication. The findings show that public trust is not static, but negotiated through the interaction between institutional credibility, digital platform culture, peer influence, and users’ emotional experiences. This study contributes to the literature on institutional trust and digital democracy by emphasizing the concept of negotiated institutional trust in contexts shaped by disinformation. The findings imply that political institutions should strengthen timely, evidence-based, and dialogic communication, while digital literacy programs should address not only factual verification but also emotional and civic dimensions of online political engagement. Further research is recommended to compare trust dynamics across regions, generations, and political communities in Indonesia

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