PERBEDAAN RESPON PEMBACA DI KOLOM KOMENTAR PADA APLIKASI WATTPAD DAN WEBTOON

Abstract

This study is motivated by differences in media characteristics in the presentation of digital literature and how they influence readers' responses to texts. It aims to examine differences in reader responses to the same text on two digital platforms, Wattpad and Webtoon. The research questions include: (1) How do readers respond in the comment section on Wattpad? (2) How do readers respond in the comment section on Webtoon? (3) What are the differences between reader responses across both platforms? The study employs a qualitative descriptive method with a content analysis approach. The data sources consist of reader comments on popular stories from Wattpad and Webtoon, analyzed using Stuart Halls decoding theory, which categorizes responses into dominant, negotiated, and oppositional readings. The findings reveal that dominant decoding is the most prevalent response on both platforms, though it appears more frequently on Webtoon. Meanwhile, negotiated and oppositional responses are more commonly found on Wattpad. These differences are influenced by the unique characteristics of each medium: Webtoons visual-based format fosters immediate emotional engagement, whereas Wattpad’s text-based format facilitates deeper and more reflective narrative interpretation. This study underscores that readers are active subjects who consciously accept, negotiate, or reject the meaning presented in a text.