Indonesian Muslim students join Israel product boycotts, study suggests

Research indicates social media and humanitarian concerns are key drivers behind consumer activism among university students

By Abdullahi Yusuf

More than half of Muslim university students surveyed in Indonesia say they regularly boycott products linked to Israel, according to a study that suggests social media is playing a significant role in shaping a new generation of consumer activism.

The research, reported by the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute, surveyed 427 Muslim students aged between 17 and 24 at an Islamic university in Jakarta. It found that 54.1% of respondents said they “very often” or “always” take part in boycotts of Israeli-affiliated products.

A further 29.27% said they participated “sometimes”, while 12.18% reported doing so rarely. Only 4.45% said they never engaged in such boycotts.

Researchers say the findings offer insight into how political awareness, religious values and online communication are shaping activism among young Muslims in the world’s most populous Muslim-majority country.

The study found a strong relationship between social media use and participation in boycott campaigns.

Students who reported using online platforms to discuss social and political issues were significantly more likely to take part in boycotts. By contrast, those who mainly used social media for networking, entertainment or self-promotion showed no meaningful link with such activism.

Reading and sharing socio-political content online was also strongly associated with participation.

Researchers say the digital environment allows students to encounter global issues, including the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and quickly translate awareness into everyday consumer decisions.

Some students said they used their platforms to encourage others to avoid certain products, while others simply chose not to buy goods they believed were connected to Israel.

The research suggests that participation in boycotts is rarely driven by a single factor.

Instead, it reflects a mix of humanitarian concerns, religious values and political awareness.

Students who expressed strong concern about global injustices were more likely to participate, particularly when those concerns intersected with Islamic teachings about justice and solidarity with oppressed communities.

Interestingly, greater awareness of domestic political issues did not necessarily translate into stronger engagement with international activism.

In fact, respondents who reported higher knowledge of local political affairs were slightly less likely to participate in boycotts.

Researchers suggest this may reflect the way formal political engagement in Indonesia tends to focus on national or local concerns rather than international issues.

Participation also appeared to be influenced by involvement in community organisations.

Students active in civic, philanthropic or religious groups were more likely to take part in boycott efforts.

However, membership in political parties or campus political organisations showed little correlation with boycott activity.

Researchers say this suggests that grassroots community engagement may play a larger role in shaping social activism than formal political structures.

Interviews conducted as part of the study revealed that many students do not necessarily see themselves as part of organised international campaigns.

In particular, researchers found that some respondents were unfamiliar with the formal structure of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, even though their actions mirrored the movement’s goals.

Instead, their decisions were often influenced by information circulating on social media, where calls for solidarity with Palestinians are widely shared.

For some, activism meant attending demonstrations or promoting boycotts online. For others, it simply meant quietly choosing different products while shopping.

The researchers conclude that Indonesian Muslim students are increasingly connecting everyday consumer choices with broader expressions of global solidarity.

They say digital platforms have made it easier for young people to link humanitarian concerns with practical action — turning purchasing decisions into a form of political expression.

Indonesia, home to the world’s largest Muslim population, has long seen public sympathy for Palestinians. But the study suggests that among younger Indonesians, activism may increasingly take shape through social media networks and consumer behaviour rather than traditional political channels.