The Indonesian entertainment industry is currently undergoing a massive paradigm shift. While traditional mediums like television and cinema remain relevant, the dominant force driving popular culture is digital video content. With over 212 million internet users and a young, mobile-first demographic, Indonesia has become a battleground for streaming giants and a fertile ground for local content creators. This report outlines the current state of the industry, highlighting the dominance of "Local Originals," the rise of digital influencers, and the viral nature of short-form video content.
Rather than disappear, sinetron has been remixed. Creators like Kiky Saputri and Muhammad Rizky produce 5–10 minute parodies that mock the overacting, dramatic music, and clichéd plot twists (e.g., amnesia, evil twins) of TV soap operas. These videos garner millions of views, appealing to viewers who are nostalgic yet critical of broadcast TV.
Indonesian entertainment and popular videos are not a simple replacement of TV by the internet. Rather, they constitute a hybrid space where sinetron melodrama, dangdut rhythm, and kampung authenticity meet YouTube metrics and TikTok trends. The result is a vibrant, messy, and deeply local digital vernacular. Future research should examine how AI-generated video and live shopping features will further reshape this ecosystem. Policymakers, meanwhile, face the challenge of regulating without crushing the creative energy that makes Indonesian popular videos a global cultural force. Rather than disappear, sinetron has been remixed
With over 200 million internet users (APJII, 2024), Indonesia is one of the world’s largest and most active digital markets. While traditional television (sinetron soap operas, talent shows, and dangdut concerts) remains influential, the locus of entertainment has shifted decisively toward short-form and long-form user-generated videos. This paper addresses two central questions: (1) What are the dominant genres and stylistic features of popular Indonesian videos on digital platforms? (2) How do these videos negotiate between global platform affordances and local cultural norms?
The most popular videos on Indonesian TikTok often fall into three categories: With over 200 million internet users (APJII, 2024),
The platform has successfully gamified Indonesian humor, which relies heavily on plintat-plintut (uncertainty) and receh (cheap, silly jokes).
Indonesia has strict decency laws. Several popular TikTokers and YouTubers have been jailed for violating the ITE Law (Electronic Information and Transactions Law), specifically regarding pornography. This has created a "softer" environment where creators must be suggestive but never explicit. and Prime Video.
The explosion of Indonesian entertainment and popular videos has created a legitimate economic boom. Top creators earn billions of rupiah monthly from brand deals (Telkomsel, Shopee, and Indomie are the top advertisers).
While user-generated content dominates volume, premium Indonesian entertainment has found a home on Netflix, Vidio, and Prime Video.