October 19, 2026

Where do voters turn when the information environment becomes fast, fragmented, and uncertain? In “How Indonesia and Singapore Handle Information Pressure” (360info, 25 July 2026), Associate Professor Carol Soon (NUS Communications and New Media) and Dr Maria Monica Wihardja (ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute) examine how audiences in Indonesia and Singapore navigate political information during elections.

They examine two recent electoral moments: Indonesia’s 2024 presidential election and Singapore’s 2025 general election. In both Indonesia and Singapore, voters increasingly encounter political information through social media, short-form videos, and creator-led content. Yet Soon and Wihardja show that when credibility matters most, many still turn to legacy media.

In Indonesia, television remained the most accessed source of election news, followed by WhatsApp and face-to-face conversations. While social media platforms such as TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook have grown rapidly in use, especially among younger voters, they have not replaced television’s role as a trusted anchor. Print media, however, has sharply declined.

Singapore shows a similar pattern in a more digitally saturated setting. During its 2025 general election, digital versions of legacy outlets such as CNA, The Straits Times, and Lianhe Zaobao were among the most used and trusted sources. Television also remained highly trusted across demographic groups. This indicates that legacy media has not disappeared but has migrated online while retaining institutional credibility.

At the same time, the article highlights how political attention is being reshaped by short-form content. In both countries, younger voters increasingly encounter politics through TikTok, YouTube, podcasts, influencers, and viral clips. This changes how political messages travel: a debate can become a short clip, a policy can become a slogan, and a candidate can be remembered through a meme.

Soon and Wihardja caution that short-form political content is not necessarily harmful, but its speed and emotional appeal can reduce space for nuance. As politics becomes more “snackable”, digital literacy must go beyond identifying fake news. Citizens also need civic and political literacy to understand policy, governance, and how framing shapes meaning.

The article also examines the growing challenge of AI-generated and digitally manipulated content. In Indonesia, AI was used in campaign-related satire and image-building, including viral “Gemoy” cartoons linked to the Prabowo-Gibran campaign. These were not straightforward cases of disinformation, but forms of subtle propaganda that are harder to regulate.

Singapore’s electorate appeared cautious about AI-manipulated material, with concern remaining high across age and education groups. The article notes that Singapore has taken a more proactive regulatory approach through the Elections (Integrity of Online Advertising) (Amendment) Act 2024, while Indonesia still faces legal gaps in regulating generative AI in elections.

Ultimately, the article argues that regulation alone is not enough. In a high-speed media environment, societies need trustworthy journalism, stronger civic education, and anticipatory rules that can respond to emerging technologies before harms become widespread.

Read the article here.