DiMS-RG — Picture this: a man on Indonesian Idol breaks down in tears after his performance, and instead of awkward silence, he receives millions of supportive comments online. A decade ago, that moment might have been edited out. Today, it goes viral on TikTok.
Something significant is changing in how Indonesian media portrays men, and a new academic study proves it with hard data.
A research team from Universitas Hasanuddin, led by Dr. Alem Febri Sonni, spent five years (2019–2024) analyzing 240 hours of television programming from five major Indonesian reality shows, over 1,100 pieces of digital media content across Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok, and survey responses from 1,000 people across 14 cities. Their findings, published in the international journal Journalism and Media, reveal a dramatic transformation: traditional masculine representation, think tough, competitive, emotionally closed-off men, dropped from 85% of all content in 2019 to just 30% by 2024.
Three New Types of Masculinity
The study identifies three distinct “platform-specific masculinities” that have emerged across different digital environments. Traditional masculinity — centered on competition, leadership, and physical strength, still dominates television (65%). But digital platforms tell a different story. On TikTok, emotional masculinity (vulnerability, personal growth, empathy) accounts for 42% of content, while creative masculinity (artistic expression, non-conventional self-presentation) makes up 45%. Even more telling: emotional and creative content generates far higher audience engagement, 380,000 and 320,000 interactions respectively, compared to just 180,000 for traditional content.
Young Indonesians Are Leading the Change
The generational divide is striking. Among audiences aged 18–24, 42% prefer emotional content, and only 28% favor traditional masculine portrayals. In contrast, those aged 45 and above still prefer traditional representations by a margin of 72%. The data suggests it isn’t just media that’s changing — it’s society’s understanding of what healthy, modern manhood looks like.
This research connects directly to Sustainable Development Goal 4: Quality Education, which calls for inclusive, equitable, and quality education that promotes lifelong learning and challenges discrimination. When digital platforms expose young Indonesians to diverse, emotionally expressive, and non-stereotypical representations of men, they are informally educating millions about gender equality. Media literacy, the ability to critically understand how gender is constructed and communicated across platforms, is a vital educational tool for reducing harmful stereotypes, supporting mental well-being, and building a more inclusive society.
Why This Matters Beyond the Screen
The implications go far beyond entertainment. When young men see that it’s socially accepted, even celebrated, to be vulnerable, creative, and emotionally open, it shapes how they treat themselves and others. The study shows that the platform you use fundamentally shapes the kind of masculinity you’re exposed to. That means parents, educators, and policymakers who understand digital platforms hold a real key to reshaping gender norms, not through censorship, but through smarter, more inclusive media literacy education.
Article Metadata
Article Title : Platform-Specific Masculinities: The Evolution of Gender Representation in Indonesian Reality Shows Across Television and Digital Media
Journal Name : Journalism and Media
Publisher : MDPI (Published under CC BY 4.0 Open Access)
Published Date : March 7, 2025 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia6010038
Authors : Alem Febri Sonni, Vinanda Cinta Cendekia Putri, Muhammad Akbar, Irwanto Irwanto — Universitas Hasanuddin & Binus University, Indonesia
