The language power and ideology of suicide actions in Instagram comment section

Abstract

Several Indonesian young generations have committed suicide action over the year 2024. This study discussed how Indonesian viewed suicide actions in the Instagram comment section. The data source is the Instagram comment section's words, phrases, and sentences. This study’s objectives are: (1) to discover what language is used by Indonesian users responding to suicide actions in Instagram posts, and (2) to identify the ideology of Indonesian users in the Instagram comment section regarding the actors of suicide actions. For data collection, this study used Data Miner and the corpus tool Antconc to facilitate the researcher in obtaining the data richness. In data analysis, this study implemented the three-dimensional framework of Fairclough’s theory, which included textual analysis, discourse practice, and social practice. This study found that Indonesian users frequently used first-person pronouns, particularly “aku,” with the aim of creating relatability and closeness. Moreover, three themes emerged: sharing experiences to foster empathy, comparing conditions to contextualize struggles, and blaming the younger generation, often labeling them as lemah or “overthinking.” Therefore, the users' ideology reflected both empathy and criticism, revealing the influence of societal norms and cultural ideologies on responses to sensitive issues. The study's findings provide practical insights for developing culturally sensitive mental health communication strategies and highlight the dual role of social media in both empathizing with and criticizing affected individuals.