From canon to algorithm: The dynamics of Indonesian literature as world literature in the digital platform era

The rapid development of digital platforms has significantly transformed the production, circulation, and consumption of literary works, creating new possibilities for the position of Indonesian literature within world literature. Traditionally, the inclusion of literary works in global literary circulation has largely depended on translation, literary institutions, publishers, critics, and international cultural networks. However, the emergence of digital platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Wattpad, and YouTube has introduced new mechanisms through which literary visibility and legitimacy are produced. This article examines how digital platforms reshape the dynamics of Indonesian literature as world literature by shifting literary circulation from institution-centered mechanisms toward platform-driven and algorithmically mediated systems. Employing a qualitative descriptive approach, the study integrates David Damrosch’s concept of world literature with José van Dijck’s theory of platform society and Henry Jenkins’ notion of participatory culture. The findings indicate that digital platforms expand opportunities for literary mobility beyond national and linguistic boundaries while simultaneously transforming the processes through which literary value and visibility are established. Readers increasingly function not only as consumers but also as curators, promoters, interpreters, and distributors of literary content. Consequently, Indonesian literature’s participation in world literature is no longer determined solely by translation and institutional recognition but also by the interactions among users, communities, platforms, and algorithms. This transformation introduces new forms of literary mobility and offers fresh perspectives for comparative literary studies in the digital era.