Revealing the Dominant Sentiments and Actors in the Discussion Network on Discourse in KPU Youtube Comments on the 2024 Indonesia Presidential Election Debate

This study analyzes communication patterns in the 2024 election debates through YouTube comments using network analysis and sentiment analysis. A total of 17,009 comments were collected using Netlytic and analyzed with Gephi and Orange Data Mining. The findings reveal that discourse dominance in the network is influenced by the candidates' backgrounds. Anies-Amin received support through narratives of intelligence and change but also faced criticism regarding policy implementation. Prabowo-Gibran was portrayed as a strong candidate ensuring continuity with Jokowi’s programs but was criticized for political ambition and the food estate project. Ganjar-Mahfud was perceived as closely tied to party interests but gained support for efforts in legal reform. Sentiment analysis identified dominant emotional categories: pride, hope, and pessimism, highlighting the polarization of public opinion towards the candidates