Representasi Identitas Sosial Pendukung Timnas Indonesia dalam Interaksi Digital: Studi Netnografi pada Komentar Pengguna Instagram di Postingan "Round 4" @timnasindonesia

Instagram has evolved into a digital public sphere that enables collective interaction and the expression of social identity, particularly within the context of sports fandom. This study aims to analyze the representation of social identity among supporters of the Indonesian National Football Team in digital interactions found in the comment section of the "Round 4" post on the official Instagram account @timnasindonesia. This research employs a qualitative approach using netnography to examine communication practices, symbols, language, and emotional expressions manifested in online interactions among supporters. The analytical framework is grounded in Social Identity Theory proposed by Tajfel and Turner, which emphasizes three core processes: social categorization, social identification, and social comparison. The findings reveal that Instagram comment sections function as arenas for constructing collective identity among Indonesian national team supporters. Social categorization is reflected in the symbolic boundaries formed between "us" as supporters and "others" as outsiders or opponents. Social identification is expressed through displays of national pride, emotional loyalty, the use of national symbols, and narratives of digital solidarity. Meanwhile, social comparison emerges through evaluations of rival teams, criticism of dissenting voices, and efforts to maintain a positive in-group image. These results indicate that digital fanaticism toward the Indonesian National Team extends beyond sports support, representing a form of digital nationalism and social identity construction in the new media environment. This study contributes to digital communication scholarship by deepening the understanding of how social identity and nationalism are negotiated through symbolic interaction on social media platforms.