Digital Sarcasm as Social Critique: A Pragmatic and Cyberpragmatic Analysis of Social Media Reactions

Abstract

This study investigates the use of sarcasm in social media comments
responding to the comparison of corruption punishments in
Indonesia and China. Using a qualitative approach with pragmatics
and cyberpragmatics frameworks, the research identifies and
analyzes the forms, functions, and contexts of sarcasm in digital
discourse. Data were collected from high-engagement comments on
platforms like Instagram and Twitter, focusing on posts criticizing
the disparity in corruption sentences. Linguistic indicators such as
hashtags, emojis, capital letters, and exclamation marks were
observed, revealing sarcasm's role in conveying dissatisfaction.
Pragmatically, comments served as tools for social critique,
emphasizing protest against legal injustices and invoking moral
values like fairness and transparency. Cyberpragmatically, the
digital context amplified the emotional tone and increased the viral
potential of the comments, enabling broader public discourse. This
study highlights sarcasm's effectiveness as a means of public
criticism, demonstrating how digital platforms facilitate creative and
collective expressions of social dissatisfaction.