Is social media changing Gen Z's social competence in Indonesia?

Abstract

The 2022 APJII survey shows that the most widely accessed social media are YouTube, reaching 88%, Whatsapp at 84%, Facebook at 82%, and Instagram at 79%. The existence of social media shifts face-to-face communication to mediated communication, so the assumption arises that social media has succeeded in replacing face-to-face communication. As a result, Gen Z's social competence is low, tends to be individualistic, socially isolated, and has low communication within the family. This condition has contradicted the cultural values of Indonesian society which prioritizes kinship values. Therefore, understanding communication patterns and social competence in Gen Z is the main thing, especially for parents. This study is expected to overcome communication problems between parents and Gen Z due to the increasingly large differences in perspective and competence. Given the widening gap in technological and social competence. This study uses a mixed method, namely combining descriptive qualitative and descriptive quantitative research methods. Qualitative approaches to find and understand the meaning of Gen Z's communication patterns and competence. Quantitative methods strengthen supporting data for qualitative data through data mining on social media. The data collection method used in-depth interviews, FGDs, and participant observation of Gen Z in cyberspace was supported by data mining on social media. The results of the study showed that Gen Z has different social competencies than the previous generation.

https://doi.org/10.17576/JKMJC-2025-4104-25