Digital Social Interaction and Identity Construction among Generation Z in Urban Indonesia
Keywords:
Digital Identity, Generation Z, Urban Indonesia, Social Interaction, Identity Construction.Abstract
This study investigates how digital social interaction shapes identity construction among Generation Z in urban Indonesia through an empirical qualitative multi-site design integrating interviews, digital ethnography, and reflective media diaries. Findings show that linguistic stylization and multimodal self-presentation operate as core infrastructures of symbolic identity work, while relational feedback loops within peer networks stabilize belonging through validation, humor, and contextual negotiation. Moral and aspirational framings further anchor digital expression in ethical reasoning, cultural continuity, and future-oriented self-projection linked to urban opportunity structures. Cross-case analysis demonstrates that identity emerges as a relational, reflexive, and platform-mediated process in which language, symbolism, and social recognition co-produce durable self-narratives. The study contributes a multi-level framework connecting discursive micro-practices with moral and aspirational logics, advancing theoretical understanding of youth digital identity and offering methodological templates for analyzing mediated subjectivity in rapidly transforming urban societies, highlighting how everyday interaction accumulates into socially regulated identity trajectories that integrate creativity, community, and ethical self-formation within contemporary platform ecologies, providing empirically grounded insight for interdisciplinary scholarship on digital youth.
Downloads
References
Durahman, E. U., & Anwar, A. A. (2025). Digital Vernaculars: A Systematic Literature Review on Indonesian Gen Z Slang Across Social Media Platforms. Journal of English Language and Education, 10(4), 1638-1646. https://doi.org/10.31004/jele.v10i4.1385.
Fariah, A. (2025). The Dynamics of the Creative Economy and Social Transformation Among Urban Gen Z in Indonesia. Jurnal Multidisiplin Indonesia, 4(1), 93-105. https://doi.org/10.58344/jmi.v4i1.2261.
Fatikh, M. A. (2025). Negotiating Digital Cultural Identity and Tolerance among Indonesian Gen Z: A Cross-Cultural Communication Perspective. Journal of Social Science and Economics, 4(2), 209-223. https://doi.org/10.37812/josse.v4i2.2116.
Gandana, I., & Oktaviandy, R. (2021). Social Media use among Indonesia’s Generation Z: A Case of University Students in Bandung, West Java. Komunitas: International Journal of Indonesian Society and Culture, 13(2), 168-178. https://doi.org/10.15294/komunitas.v13i2.28856.
Harun, I., & Navitas, P. (2026). Why Don’t You Wanna Live Vertically? A Perspective from Gen-Z in Surabaya Metropolitan Area, Indonesia. Urban Science, 10(1), 28. https://doi.org/10.3390/urbansci10010028.
Hasanah, U. U., Suleman, M. A., Sayed, S., Idayanti, Z., Hilmi, A., & Rachmat, M. Z. F. (2025). Islamic Education and Generation Z Moral Development: Digital-Based Character Building in Indonesian Urban Schools. Journal of Contemporary Islamic Primary Education, 4(2), 415-430. https://doi.org/10.61253/jcipe.v4i2.476.
Hidayat, Z., & Hidayat, D. (2020). Techno-entrepreneurship as identity construction for the Indonesian generation Z. Journal of Educational Media, Memory, and Society, 12(2), 30-56. https://doi.org/10.3167/jemms.2020.120202.
Hinduan, Z. R., Anggraeni, A., & Agia, M. I. (2020). Generation Z in Indonesia: The self-driven digital. In The new Generation Z in Asia: Dynamics, differences, digitalisation (pp. 121-134). Emerald Publishing Limited. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-80043-220-820201012.
Jayaputri, H. E., & Aziz, M. F. (2024). Language Markers and Social Identity in Digital Communication Among Generation Z in Indonesia. Applied Linguistics: Innovative Approaches and Emerging Trends, 1(2), 131-154. https://doi.org/10.58989/appling.v1i2.21.
Kartika, R., Puspita, M., & Susanto, J. (2025). Social Media Influence on Youth Identity Formation in Urban Communities. Journal Social Humanity Perspective, 3(3), 127-138. https://doi.org/10.71435/661333.
Musyarrafah, S., Santoso, A., & Susanto, G. (2025). Generation Z's prokem in social media: Language transformation and social identity of Makassar Adolescents. Satwika: Kajian Ilmu Budaya dan Perubahan Sosial, 9(1), 17-28. https://doi.org/10.22219/satwika.v9i1.37487.
Normasyhuri, K., Edi, R. N., Pradikta, H. Y., Noviarita, H., & Anggraeni, E. (2025). Dynamics of the Social and Technological Environment on Religious Moderation: Study of Generation Z in Lampung Province in the Era of Globalization. RADEN INTAN: Proceedings on Family and Humanity, 2(2), 72-91. https://doi.org/10.47352/3032-503x.108.
Putri, A. F., Putri, B. M., Suparman, E. P., Astriani, W., & Nargis, N. (2025). The Influence of Social Media Language on Generation Z Identity in Indonesia. Jurnal Multidisiplin Ilmu Akademik, 2(1), 608-613. https://doi.org/10.61722/jmia.v2i1.3740.
Putri, F. S. E., Khumayah, S., & Nurfalah, F. (2023). Formation of Self-Identity of Generation Z Through Instagram Social Media Amongst Students. IMAGIONARY, 2(1), 1-6. https://doi.org/10.51353/jim.v2i1.814.
Rahmani, I. L., & Syafaat, P. M. F. (2025). Intergenerational Code-Switching in Indonesian Digital Discourse: A Sociolinguistic Analysis of Millennials and Gen Z. PROCEEDING AISELT, 10(2). https://dx.doi.org/10.62870/aiselt.v10i2.37090.
Rosharlianti, Z. (2021). The Trend of Hijrah: New Construction of Urban Millennial Muslim Identity in Indonesia. The Sociology of Islam, 4(2), 182-205. https://doi.org/10.15642/jsi.2021.4.2.182-205.
Stiawan, A., & Dock, C. (2025). Intensity of Social Media Use and Political Participation of Generation Z In Indonesia: A Correlational Analysis. International Journal of Geography, Social, and Multicultural Education, 3(2), 46-58. https://doi.org/10.26740/ijgsme.v3n2.p46-58.
Supriadi, I., & Sari, Y. (2024). Indonesian Cultural Identity In Social Media Networks: A Critical Discourse Analysis On Instagram Of Gen Z Users. MSJ: Majority Science Journal, 2(1), 171-177. https://doi.org/10.61942/msj.v2i1.76.
Widayat, P. A., Khaeroni, C., & Kuliyatun, K. (2025). Religious Moderation Among Generation Z Indonesian Muslims: A Dialectical Analysis of Understanding and Practice. Fikri: Jurnal Kajian Agama, Sosial dan Budaya, 10(1), 264-285. https://doi.org/10.25217/jf.v10i1.5726.
Wijaya, B. N., Kumala, K., & Pandin, M. G. R. (2022). The Effectivity Of Building Local Cultural Knowledge For Generation Z Of Indonesia In The Digital Era Through Instagram. Nusantara: Jurnal Ilmu Pengetahuan Sosial, 9(2), 189-197. https://doi.org/10.31604/jips.v9i1.2022.189-197.
