Why Indonesian Social Media is Awash with Pink and Green
Two pivotal moments from the protests in Indonesia have inspired a movement in two colors
Why are Indonesians turning their social media photos pink and green?
The past few days have seen Indonesian social media filled with pink and green photos, emojis, and content. The two colors are part of a movement that pushes seventeen short-term and eight long-term measures being advocated by pro-democracy activists in the Southeast Asian nation.
The colors—now called Brave Pink and Hero Green—are taken from two separate episodes that took place amid the protests in Indonesia. The former is inspired by Ibu Ana, a woman who was photographed confronting authorities while waving the Indonesian flag and wearing a pink hijab. The latter references the helmet of the late Affan Kurniawan, a motorcycle taxi rider who tragically lost his life during the demonstrations.
From profile pictures on Instagram, frames on Facebook photos, to other online visuals, the Brave Pink and Hero Green campaign—which began organically—has gone viral on Indonesian social media.
Simple image generators such as this one, created by Anang Marjono, have helped the movement scale exponentially, allowing those who could not join on the ground to stand with the people in fighting for social change in Indonesia.
The simple color change stands as a resounding wave across the Southeast Asian nation, as protests across key cities continue, spurred by economic frustrations and calls for widespread reforms.
