Facts Over Feelings: How X Users Maintain Rational Discourse More Than TikTok Users

 By Davina Aulia Putri (30802300016)

Where Logic Still Lives Online                               

In today’s social media landscape, everyone has a platform to speak, but not everyone uses it with care. Amid the noise, arguments, and endless viral trends, one place continues to stand out as the center of logic and reason: X, formerly known as Twitter.

While TikTok grows through emotional reactions and dramatic storytelling, X remains the platform where facts hold greater value than feelings, and discussions are guided by thought instead of impulse.

Whenever a viral topic from TikTok reaches X, the contrast becomes easy to see. TikTok users often express themselves through emotions, using personal stories and expressive responses. Meanwhile, X users tend to analyze, question, and think critically. They do not just react; they take time to understand. That difference is what separates meaningful conversation from simple chaos.

The 2024 Presidential Debate: Emotion vs. Analysis

One clear example of this was seen during the 2024 presidential debate, when presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto shed tears while talking about his past. This moment quickly spread and sparked a wave of mixed reactions from users of both platforms.

On TikTok, videos showing tears and sympathy for Prabowo flooded the timeline. One of the users, Muthia Wahyu (@muthiawahyu), uploaded a video with teary eyes while saying, “…awalnya gue nggak peduli gitu sekarang tentang pemilihan presiden, cuman makin ke sini tuh gue ngerasain pak Prabowo tuh bener-bener yang tulus….” she said in a video that has been viewed more than 1 million times (January 9, 2024).

Source: TikTok

A similar post came from the account @muhammadrzk_, who wrote in his video: “tahun 2024 Fulll nangissin pak Prabowo” and received more than 30 thousand likes.

Source: TikTok

Meanwhile, the X community responded differently. Many users felt that TikTok users' emotional reactions were excessive. The account @phsycalgraffiti wrote: “Nangis kok liat Prabowo minta maaf, nangis tuh baca buku sejarah orang-orang hilang, dibunuh, diculik gak dibalikin ke keluarganya...”.

Source: X

Meanwhile, the account @babegini, known for its political posts, commented sarcastically: “ASLI, jujurly saya kasihan lihat @prabowo di acara Narasi Bicara Gagasan. Penilaian saya: 1. Tidak siap, 2. Grogi, 3. Panik.”.

Source: X

The TikTok Live Blackout: When Voices Fell Silent

A similar cross-platform storm erupted again in August 2025, when TikTok Live suddenly stopped working during a wave of national protests. Many small business owners and online hosts, who relied on TikTok Live for income, voiced frustration and panic.

One viral post read, “banyak rakyat yang jualan lewat live tiktok banyak yang kerjaannya juga host live tiktok gimana dong mereka dapet pemasukan????”. 

Source: TikTok

Meanwhile, discussions on X took a more political tone. User @johnnnoot wrote, “Since yesterday, Indonesian have been livestreaming protests on TikTok. But now TikTok Live suddenly doesn’t work in Indonesia. With mainstream media biased toward the gov & press freedom under threat, this blackout is alarming.”.

Source: X

While TikTok users reacted with emotion, X users responded with analysis and evidence. They looked beyond how the moment felt and focused on what it truly meant. Unlike TikTok, which often serves as a space for spontaneous reactions, X has become a place for thoughtful reasoning. Its users do not stop at asking what happened; they question what it represents for freedom, democracy, and transparency. This reflects the strength of critical thinking that continues to define X and its community.

The Rational Pulse of the Internet

TikTok and X both give people the freedom to express themselves, but freedom means little without understanding. On TikTok, emotions often take control, turning discussions into waves of sympathy and reaction. But emotion alone cannot build meaningful dialogue.

X, on the other hand, keeps the pulse of rational thinking alive. Users value facts, context, and evidence as the foundation of every argument. They question, analyze, and debate not only to express opinions but to uncover truth.

In a time when most people rush to comment before thinking, X users choose to pause and reason first. This habit is what sets them apart and what keeps the digital world balanced. Logic, not loudness, is what sustains meaningful conversations online.