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
Recommended Video
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Brave Pink and Hero Green is a viral social media movement tied to Indonesia’s 2025 pro-democracy protests. The two colors represent specific figures from the demonstrations: Brave Pink honors Ibu Ana, photographed confronting authorities in a pink hijab, and Hero Green references the helmet of Affan Kurniawan, a motorcycle taxi rider who died during the protests.
Ibu Ana became a symbol of civilian courage after being photographed waving the Indonesian flag while confronting authorities during the demonstrations. Affan Kurniawan was a motorcycle taxi rider who lost his life during the protests — his green helmet becoming a posthumous emblem of sacrifice, adopted by the movement as Hero Green.
The color change is a form of digital solidarity with pro-democracy protesters across Indonesia. For those unable to join demonstrations on the ground, updating a profile picture or photo frame to Brave Pink and Hero Green signals support for the movement’s seventeen short-term and eight long-term reform demands.
The Brave Pink and Hero Green movement is the visual expression of a broader pro-democracy campaign advocating seventeen short-term and eight long-term reform measures in Indonesia. The protests have been driven by economic frustrations and calls for systemic political change across the country’s major cities.
The campaign spread organically through profile picture changes on Instagram and Facebook, amplified by simple online image generators — including one built by developer Anang Marjono — that allowed users to apply the colors to their own photos without technical knowledge, enabling the movement to scale rapidly beyond those physically present at protests.
