By Davina Aulia Putri (30802300016)
Two Worlds Collide Online
In today’s digital era, arguments between netizens have become an everyday spectacle. Two of the most vocal platforms, TikTok and X (formerly Twitter) often turn into virtual arenas whenever a topic goes viral.
Once a discussion starts on TikTok and spreads to X, the differences become clear. Users on X tend to be sharp, concise, and critical, while TikTok users express their opinions with more emotion and storytelling. This clash of styles often sparks endless debates, each side convinced they hold the truth.
Cross-platform debates often arise when viral topics on TikTok are discussed again on X. Not infrequently, X users judge TikTok netizens as being too “dramatic” and not understanding the context of the issues they are discussing. Conversely, TikTok users judge X netizens as being too smart and resistant to new perspectives. As a result, conflicts of opinion often end in mutual sarcasm and ridicule between the two camps.
When Politics Becomes a Digital Warzone
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).
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.
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...”.
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.”.
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????”.
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.”.
These two reactions highlight the contrast between the two platforms. TikTok is often referred to as a space for emotional expression, while X leans more towards logic and sharp criticism. But interestingly, both TikTok and X users are often equally reluctant to accept different points of view. Each side feels that their version is the most rational, the most “issue-oriented,” and the most valid.
When Everyone Thinks They’re Right: The Endless Clash Between TikTok and X Users
So therefore, in today’s digital world, everyone has a platform to express themselves, but not everyone is willing to truly listen. This is what experts call confirmation bias, which means the tendency to only accept information that fits what we already believe. That’s why so many online discussions end up feeling less like conversations and more like battles of ego. People argue to win, not to understand. Maybe it’s time we stop treating different opinions as personal attacks. TikTok and X each have their own culture and strengths, and that doesn’t have to lead to conflict. The internet could be a much better place if we tried to understand before we respond, because at the end of the day, no one really wins these arguments. All that remains is the noise we create.
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