Roblox-Related Protest and Political Opposition in Indonesia: Game-Native Repertoires and Discursive Resistance

Authors

• Ruth Stany Melisa, Universitas ParamadinaFollow

Abstract

Digital games increasingly intersect with political communication as environments in which political grievances are reformulated through gaming cultures and vernaculars. This study examines Roblox-related protests associated with the Indonesia Gelap movement and the controversy surrounding the Indonesian Armed Forces Law (UU TNI) in March 2025. It asks how political opposition is constructed through game-native and symbolic repertoires and how these discourses invoke socially shared representations and relate to political power. Using a qualitative design, the study analyses six selected digital artefacts retrieved from X and TikTok. Visual and textual material constitute the primary data, while captured comments are treated as contextual discourse. Analysis uses van Dijk’s Sociocognitive Approach to Critical Discourse Studies and distinguishes political opposition from qualifying discursive resistance. Findings show that grievances are translated through gacha, Robux, top-up references, memes, humour, parody, avatars, and placards. Several artefacts directly contest government policy and institutional authority, while others circulate or recontextualize opposition. Protest repertoires are re-staged within Roblox, and cross-platform comments frame the phenomenon through generational categories without demographic verification. The study shows how game-native political discourse articulates opposition, differentiates resistance, and connects culturally recognizable meanings with political power.

Bahasa Abstract

Gim digital semakin beririsan dengan komunikasi politik sebagai ruang tempat keluhan politik dirumuskan kembali melalui budaya dan bahasa khas gim. Penelitian ini mengkaji protes terkait Roblox yang berhubungan dengan gerakan Indonesia Gelap dan kontroversi Undang-Undang Tentara Nasional Indonesia (UU TNI) pada Maret 2025. Penelitian ini menelaah bagaimana oposisi politik dikonstruksikan melalui repertoar yang bersifat game-native dan simbolik, serta bagaimana wacana tersebut memunculkan representasi yang dipahami secara sosial dan berhubungan dengan kekuasaan politik. Dengan desain kualitatif, penelitian menganalisis enam artefak digital terpilih yang diperoleh dari X dan TikTok. Materi visual dan tekstual menjadi data utama, sementara komentar yang terekam diperlakukan sebagai wacana kontekstual. Analisis menggunakan Pendekatan Sosiokognitif dalam Studi Wacana Kritis van Dijk dan membedakan oposisi politik dari resistensi diskursif yang memenuhi kriteria analitis. Temuan menunjukkan bahwa keluhan politik diterjemahkan melalui gacha, Robux, top-up, meme, humor, parodi, avatar, dan poster protes. Sejumlah artefak secara langsung menentang kebijakan pemerintah dan otoritas institusional, sementara artefak lainnya berfungsi mengedarkan atau merekontekstualisasikan oposisi. Repertoar protes juga dipentaskan kembali dalam Roblox, sementara komentar lintas platform membingkai fenomena tersebut melalui kategori generasi tanpa verifikasi demografis. Penelitian ini menunjukkan bagaimana wacana politik berbasis budaya gim mengartikulasikan oposisi, membedakan resistensi, dan menghubungkan makna yang dikenali secara budaya dengan kekuasaan politik.

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Recommended Citation

Melisa, Ruth Stany (2026) "Roblox-Related Protest and Political Opposition in Indonesia: Game-Native Repertoires and Discursive Resistance," JURNAL KOMUNIKASI INDONESIA: Vol. 15: No. 1, Article 6.
DOI: 10.7454/jkmi.v15i1.1405
Available at: https://scholarhub.ui.ac.id/jkmi/vol15/iss1/6