Economic Sector during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Indonesian Instagram Users Behaviour

Abstract

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has become a “major disaster” for Indonesia. Communities became confused after the Government instructed people to “Stay at Home” and “Work from Home” in order to end the spread of the coronavirus. Many people feel that the Government's decision is detrimental because not everybody can work from home. There were many employee reductions in several companies and did not have a steady income. This study attempted to find out the use of Instagram as one of the popular media during the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia on economic impact. This study employed the semiotics method to analyse the #stayathomeindonesia hashtag on Instagram from 20 March 2020 to 5 April 2020. It was revealed that during the COVID-19 pandemic, Indonesian Instagram users used the platform to post their activity at home. Indonesian behaviours on Instagram amid the COVID-19 pandemic include posting homemade food, children’s drawings or colourings at home, and food order through online applications. So that the online-based economy more benefited than the offline-based because of limited activities outside the home due to appeals for staying at home.