Re-reading the simulation of the impact of the increase in oil prices. The figure is dizzying: for every 10 dollar increase above the assumption of the state budget, the state must increase the subsidy burden by Rp 80 trillion. Now the price is 92 dollars. This means that Rp 160 trillion must be sought.
But what bothers me more is not that number. When I opened social media, my timeline was hot. It is not because of policy discussions. But because of hunting.
A housewife reuploaded her video while shopping. “You know, mothers buy cooking oil, later the price will go up because of them.” The comments below are cruel: greedy, stupid, brainless. In fact, maybe the mother was just panicking. Maybe he was afraid that he wouldn’t be able to feed his family if prices kept rising.
This phenomenon has a name: panic bullying. The act of bullying others in response to fear or collective panic. And in the age of social media, it spreads faster than fire.
When Fear Looks for a Black Goat
Simple psychology is that when we are afraid, we are looking for something to blame. In the current situation of global conflict—the US and Iran attacking each other, the Strait of Hormuz being disrupted, oil prices soaring—the fear is real.
But since most of us can’t shoot missiles or stop wars, we look for easier targets. Mothers who overspend. Traders who raise prices. Neighbors who have more stock. Or anyone who is different, who can be used as the “culprit”.
The Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (Indef) noted that an increase in oil prices of 10 dollars could increase the burden of subsidies up to Rp 80 trillion.
But no one calculates how much psychological burden poaching can take on social media. How many people sleep restlessly because their name is the subject of public ridicule just because of panic shopping?
I opened X, the former Twitter. Hashtags #Ibu Greedy trending. Some edited videos of mothers in the market with dramatic music, as if they were criminals. In fact, maybe they just don’t have enough information. Maybe they just believe the neighbors’ talk that prices will rise dramatically.
Social media has a cruel mechanism: anonymity gives courage, virality gives gifts. The more cruel the comment, the more likes. The more judgmental, the more retweets.
In a situation of conflict and uncertainty like today, social media has become a space for fear amplification. Information is half-truthfully spreading. Rumors become facts. And the most vulnerable (housewives, small traders, ordinary people) become victims of public poaching.
Those who panic bullying may feel that they are “educating” or “straightening”. In fact, they are just venting their own fears on others. In the language of psychology, this is displacement: diverting aggression from the actual source of the threat (war, policy, uncertainty) to a safer target (fellow citizens).
Real Impact: Invisible Wounds of the State Budget
In the office, we calculate the economic impact. Inflation, growth, deficit. But there is no budget post to repair the psychological wounds of panic bullying victims.
A friend who is a psychologist at an online counseling service told me a story. In the past week, his clients have increased. They came with similar complaints: anxiety, fear of opening up social media, feeling isolated. Some have videos that go viral because they are considered to “spread panic” even though they only ask questions in the citizens’ forum.
“The wound is real,” my friend said. “They need weeks to recover. Meanwhile, the perpetrator may have forgotten and moved on to the next victim.”
This is the hidden cost of panic bullying. Costs that are not included in the LPS calculation are not recorded in the KSSK report, but are very real in daily life.
First, Rationality decreases, emotions increase. Second, the polarized social environment. Third, lack of emotional literacy. Fourth, weak enforcement of digital ethics.
Meanwhile, regulations are still lagging behind.
So, what can we do?
As citizens, in the midst of this uncertain situation, what is the right response?
First, take a breath before responding. Whatever information we receive, give it a pause. Ask yourself: am I sure this is true? Will my comments help or hurt? In a panic situation, a few seconds of pause can save a person from inner wounds.
Second, distinguish between information and provocation. Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Sufmi Dasco Ahmad has appealed to the public not to panic buy. But on social media, this kind of appeal is often twisted into ridicule. So, we need to be critical: is this content informative, or is it just looking for prey?
Third, strengthen solidarity, not hunting. In difficult situations, what we need is to help each other. If you see a neighbor panicking shopping, talk to him, not video and upload it for public laughter. If you see incorrect information, straighten it out politely, not with ridicule.
Fourth, report bullying content. Social media platforms have a reporting mechanism. Use. Don’t let our digital space become a hunting ground.
Fifth, take care of your own mental health. Panic bullying often starts from within: when we are unable to manage our own fears, we release them to the outside. So, it is important to take care of yourself. Limit news consumption if necessary. Look for information from trusted sources. Talk to friends or family if you’re anxious.
Reflection: The State Can Manage the Budget, But We Manage Ourselves
Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa is optimistic. Simulations have been made and Mitigation has been prepared.
But the state cannot manage collective emotions. The state cannot stop bullying on social media with the state budget. That’s our duty as citizens.
So, in the midst of this uncertainty, I chose to:
Do not participate in judging. I don’t know the struggles of others, I don’t know the pressure they are facing. Judging is easy, but never constructive.
Share information that is calming, not panic-inducing. If you get good news about food stocks or government policies, spread it. If you get bad news that is not clear to the truth, hold it back.
Remembering that behind the scenes, there are humans. The mother whose video went viral has children, has feelings, and dreams. Our comments can destroy all of that in a matter of seconds.
I remember a wise man’s message: “In a stormy situation, the wise man is not busy finding out who is at fault, but busy making sure everyone is safe.”
Let’s be that wise man. In the midst of global uncertainty, in the midst of economic threats, in the midst of hot social media—let’s be a damper, not a trigger. Let’s be helpers, not hunters.
Because in the end, the crisis will pass. The price will be stable. But the wounds from bullying can last a lifetime. And that, it is not comparable to the momentary gratification of a scathing comment.
#bullying