Jurnal Muara Ilmu Ekonomi dan Bisnis ISSN 2579-6224 (Versi Cetak) Vol. xx, No. xx, xxx : hlm xx-xx ISSN-L 2579-6232 (Versi Elektronik) https://doi.org/10.24912/jmieb.xxx 1 UNVEILING THE POWER OF SOCIAL MEDIA: PUBLIC SENTIMENT ANALYSIS FOR GOVERNMENT POLICY ADAPTATION MENYINGKAP KEKUATAN MEDIA SOSIAL: ANALISIS SENTIMEN PUBLIK UNTUK ADAPTASI KEBIJAKAN PEMERINTAH Riza Wahyu Utami 1 , Traviata Bianca Berliana Putri 2 , Daffa Aditra Bintang Berlian 3 1 Economy, Universitas PGRI Argopuro, Jember* Email: utamiwahyuriza@gmail.com 2 Public Relations, Ministry of State Secretariat of the Republic of Indonesia, Jakarta Email: travbiancabp@gmail.com 3 Constitutional Law, Faculty of Law, Universitas Jember, Jember Email: daffadtr@gmail.com *Riza Wahyu Utami (Corresponding Author) Masuk : dd-mm-yyyy, revisi: dd-mm-yyyy, diterima untuk diterbitkan : dd-mm-yyyy ABSTRACT Social media has become an essential platform for public discourse, shaping opinions and influencing decision- making processes at various levels. This study aims to analyze public sentiment trends on social media, particularly focusing on the dissemination of information, the impact of sentiment on public perception, and the role of digital engagement in shaping societal attitudes. Utilizing sentiment analysis and social network analysis (SNA) methodologies, this research examines a large dataset of social media interactions from multiple platforms. The findings indicate that public sentiment is significantly influenced by key events, media coverage, and political narratives. Positive sentiment is generally associated with transparency, government responsiveness, and proactive communication, while negative sentiment is often driven by misinformation, political polarization, and distrust in institutions. The study also highlights the role of influential users, including key opinion leaders (KOLs) and media figures, in shaping public sentiment trends. A critical aspect of this research is the identification of sentiment dynamics over time, revealing patterns of sentiment shifts in response to major socio-political events. Additionally, the study identifies the novelty in how different sentiment clusters interact, emphasizing the role of emotional contagion and echo chambers in amplifying specific narratives. The findings provide valuable insights for policymakers, public relations professionals, and media strategists in managing public discourse and addressing misinformation effectively. The implications of this study suggest the necessity for a more robust digital literacy framework, proactive government communication strategies, and enhanced fact-checking mechanisms to mitigate the spread of misleading narratives. Future research should further explore the integration of artificial intelligence in monitoring public sentiment and its potential application in predictive policy-making. Keywords: Social media sentiment, public perception, digital engagement, misinformation, social network analysis ABSTRAK Media sosial telah menjadi platform utama dalam diskursus publik, membentuk opini, dan mempengaruhi proses pengambilan keputusan di berbagai tingkatan. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis tren sentimen publik di media sosial, terutama dalam penyebaran informasi, dampak sentimen terhadap persepsi publik, serta peran keterlibatan digital dalam membentuk sikap masyarakat. Dengan menggunakan analisis sentimen dan analisis jaringan sosial (SNA), penelitian ini menelaah dataset besar dari berbagai platform media sosial. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa sentimen publik sangat dipengaruhi oleh peristiwa penting, liputan media, dan narasi politik. Sentimen positif umumnya terkait dengan transparansi, responsivitas pemerintah, dan komunikasi proaktif, sedangkan sentimen negatif sering dipicu oleh misinformasi, polarisasi politik, dan ketidakpercayaan terhadap institusi. Studi ini juga menyoroti peran pengguna berpengaruh, seperti key opinion leaders (KOL) dan tokoh media, dalam membentuk tren sentimen publik. Aspek penting dalam penelitian ini adalah identifikasi dinamika sentimen dari waktu ke waktu, yang mengungkap pola perubahan sentimen sebagai respons terhadap peristiwa sosial-politik