The document discusses a closed Facebook group called "Filterinfo" used by peace activists in Ambon, Indonesia. It was used to limit outsiders' access to information during a conflict and created a "small world" for insiders where trust was important for sharing. The group had about 20 members from NGOs, media, universities and others who knew each other personally. Strict norms developed for sharing sensitive conflict information both online and face-to-face to build trust as the collective worked to rebuild Christian-Muslim relations after violence in 1999-2005. The findings suggest closed groups can enable civic engagement if membership is limited to those who personally trust each other.

1. MAKING THE WORLD SMALL:
A CLOSED FB GROUP AND PEACE ACTIVISTS IN INDONESIA
ABDUL ROHMAN
PHD CANDIDATE
WEE KIM WEE SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION
NANYANG TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY, SINGAPORE

2. SOCIAL MEDIA AND SOCIAL MOVEMENTS
 Closed Facebook Group
 I argue that closed FB groups are used to limit outsiders’ access to information in the time of
conflict, making the world of the insiders small. Subsequently, trust is determinant for
information sharing activities in the small world.

3. Source: http://www.wowshack.com/6-eye-opening-maps-of-indonesia-you-probably-havent-seen-before/
Context of the study

4. • Nearly four hundred thousand people live in an area
of 377km² (approximately half of Singapore).
• Malay-Ambonese language is common, with some
Dutch influence, and Bahasa Indonesia is widely
spoken
• Mountainous and coastal topographies divide Ambon
into upper and lower neighborhoods.
• The Muslims normally lived in the lower, whereas the
Christian in the upper neighborhood.
Both Christianity and Islam came through trading activities
Religions were used to resonate loyalty during the Dutch
colonialism.
• Approximately 5000 deaths
• Nearly 10000 people are
internally displaced

5. THE PRESENCE OF RUMORS IN THE AMBON CONFLICT
1999 to 2005
face-to-face
2011
mobile communication
devices
to date (post-conflict)
face-to-face and mediated
communication platforms
have been used to rebuild
trust between Christian and
Muslim communities

6. METHODS
 Data collection
 Filterinfo
 Filedwork
 Interview
 Observation

7. THE CLOSED FB GROUP: FILTERINFO
The members
2, 9%
1, 5%
4, 19%
5, 24%
3, 14%
6, 29%
Art group Government
Media NGO
Others & Unspecified University
The activities (24/9/2011 to 24/5/2012)
0
10
20
30
40
50
9/24/11 10/24/11 11/24/11 12/24/11 1/24/12 2/24/12 3/24/12 4/24/12 5/24/12
ACTIVITIES(POST+COMMENTS)
DATES

8. Theory of Life in the Round (Chatman,
1999)
THEORETICAL GUIDANCE

9. FINDINGS: CLOSED FB AS A SMALL WORLD
Small world
a space for individuals
to share the same
concerns and opinions.
Worldview
a collective view that
rumors had facilitated
the conflict
a shared viewpoint as
the citizens of Ambon
Social types
The founder, group
administrators, and
members
Social norms
rules for the group
members to share
information

10. NORMS IN INFORMATION SHARING
Exchanging contacts (i.e.
mobile numbers, FB accounts)
Conflict-
sensitive
information
Face to face interactions (i.e. checking
locations, talking to witnesses)
The Facebook Group
(Filterinfo)

11. MAKING THE WORLD SMALL: THE ROLE OF TRUST
 “We have known each other. Not everyone can be added [to the group] … [to
be added] s/he must be very trustworthy. [We] questioned who posted what;
could the information be trusted? If not really [trustworthy], we checked it
again … If there was inaccurate information posted, we deleted it straight
away … There were about twenty members … we know each other very well…
Or, at least, we have met in person” (Participant R).

12. IMPLICATIONS
 The findings are potential to be used to:
 address criticisms toward the use of commercial social media platforms for socio-political
changes
 inspire the creation of non-commercial platforms for civic engagements and social
movements.