Expressions of Digital Nationalism and Civic Ethics: An Analysis of Indonesian Netizens’ Responses to the @umparum3 Account’s Cultural Stereotypes

Abstract

This study examines the phenomenon of the shift from expressions of digital nationalism to cyber aggression among Indonesian netizens when responding to narratives that stereotype foreign cultures. Specifically, a post by the X account @umparum3 that disparaged the tradition of eating with one’s hands triggered mass mobilization under the guise of defending the nation, which clashed with the ethics of digital citizenship. Through content analysis of netizen interactions on the X platform, reduced using the Miles and Huberman model, this study evaluates these communication patterns. The findings reveal the dark side of participatory culture, where the collective energy of netizens instead slips into digital chauvinism and mass cyberbullying, rather than fostering rational and constructive cultural diplomacy. Solidarity sentiments lacking ethical maturity ultimately harm the nation’s image of maturity on the global stage. In conclusion, this phenomenon demands the revitalization of Pancasila and Civic Education (PPKn) through a Project-Based Learning approach to instill the principles of moral responsibility, caution (filter before sharing), and practical digital literacy in the younger generation.