TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The voters demographic on the recent regional head election (Pilkada 2018) shows that millennials comprise up to 30 percent of the total voters which are people in the age range of 21 – 38 years old. This fact forces politicians to adapt their approach.

According to social media practitioner Nukhman Lutfie, millennials have a different way of consuming information they receive from the media; through the internet and on a smartphone.

Millennials rarely get their news from conventional media such as reading newspapers or watching television. “Any form of communication broadcasted through conventional media is not delivered properly to the millennials,” said Nukhman on Wednesday, June 28.

Therefore, Nukhman argues that social media has molded into a precise channel for millennials to get their information and news. For example, East Java Deputy Governor candidate Emil Dardak who actively uploads his daily routines and activities that relates to ongoing government programs in his social media account.

“Emil Dardak’s wife, Arumi Bachsin is equally active in social media,” said the social media practitioner, which is arguably an added factor in improving Emil Dardak’s image among millenials.

Nukhman said that using social media appropriately is to apply the correct way of communicating with the public.

“First is the media itself, the second thing is how the communication is carried. Using casual words to describe something can better attract the interest of the younger generation, considering that the use of social media is to reach younger people,” Nukhman explained.

He also gave an example of the strategy practiced by West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil who is currently a hot topic of discussion among youths.

Anastasia Pramudita Davies