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Abstract

The need for inclusive shared spaces that offer tangible solutions rather than just information has become increasingly urgent, given the limits of state resources. Facebook-based Info Cegatan Jogja (ICJ), with over a million members, uniquely showcases civil society’s productive use of social media. The ICJ project began by documenting police checkpoints (cegatan) and bureaucratic hurdles in Yogyakarta. It has since evolved into a combined online and offline community that regularly reports accidents, thefts, lost items, and other public concerns, effectively functioning as a public awareness, complaint, and information-sharing platform for the entire Yogyakarta Special Region Province. Given the emerging mutual interest in the ICJ, the following question arises: How do the shared practices of cegatan reporting turn Facebook into a space for cultural exchange? To address this research question, the methodology employed consisted of a qualitative approach centred on ethnographic and documentary analysis. Primary data collection comprised observations and in-depth interviews with relevant stakeholders, including ICJ representatives, public officials, and community members. The findings of this research show that ICJ’s family-like atmosphere, where personal problems are consistently and successfully resolved through the combined efforts of its ICJ volunteers and the reach of its network, acts as a catalyst for cultural commoning.

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