Recently, concerns have been raised among Indonesian government officials and the public regarding the Muslim-majority Southeast Asian country's youth and far-right radicalization from online exposure to western extremist ideologies.
The key trigger for the recent attention to this matter began back in November 2025 when a 17 year old was identified as the perpetrator behind a bombing at a Jakarta high school mosque that injured 96 people. Police investigations revealed the he was inspired by Western far-right extremists, including references to the 2019 Christchurch mosque shooter (Brenton Tarrant), the 2017 Quebec City mosque shooter, and phrases like the "14 Words" white nationalist slogan. The attacker reportedly had a toy gun inscribed with such references, kept a diary expressing isolation, and drew from international Telegram channels glorifying such attacks. Authorities described him as a lone wolf acting independently, motivated by personal vengeance rather than affiliation with any formal group.
Indonesia's counterterrorism agency (Densus 88) and other officials reported a significant increase in youth exposure to far-right ideologies from around 2023–2025, often via online gaming communities, social media, and "True Crime Communities" (TCC) that glorify violence. Since early 2026, police have identified over 70 minors aged 11-18 that have been allegedly exposed to extremism through these channels, with concentrations in Jakarta, West Java, and East Java. Ideologies like neo-Nazism and white supremacy have appeared in these spaces, sometimes blending with local grievances or fascination with mass violence.
Authorities are considering countermeasures like tighter social media rules for minors and potential curbs on certain video games.
Source:
https://www.dw.com/en/how-white-supremacy-is-spreading-among-indonesias-youth/video-75813889
