International Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities

The Transformation of Social Identity of the Young Generation in the Digital Era: Sociological and Cultural Anthropology Perspectives

Yorman, Evi Safitri Yulandari, Baiq Yulia Kurnia Wahidah — Thu, 30 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The development of digital technology has a significant impact on the formation of the social identity of the younger generation. Social media, digital spaces, and virtual culture are becoming new arenas where individuals construct, negotiate, and display their identities. This article aims to analyze the transformation of the social identity of the young generation in the digital era through sociological and cultural anthropological approaches. This study focuses on how interactions in virtual spaces shape patterns of communication, self-representation, and social relationships that are different from traditional patterns. This study uses a qualitative method based on literature studies and phenomenological observations on the behavior of the young generation on social media. The results show that digitalization drives a shift in values, where identity is no longer static, but fluid, plural, and often determined by algorithms and global popular culture dynamics. The identity of the younger generation is increasingly influenced by digital practices such as self-branding, the use of visual symbols, and participation in online communities. However, this transformation also raises paradoxes: on the one hand it expands the space of freedom of expression, but on the other hand increases vulnerability to cultural homogenization, social pressures and crises of authenticity. This article concludes that the transformation of social identity in the digital age must be understood as a continuous negotiation process between local values, globalization, and the influence of technology. The implications of this study emphasize the importance of digital literacy and cultural awareness as a strategy to strengthen the identity of the young generation to remain critical, reflective, and adaptive in the face of rapid social change.

The Role of Social Media in the Formation of Collective Consciousness and Contemporary Social Movements

Maftuh Ihsan Nanda Kurniawan, Hully — Thu, 30 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Social media has evolved into a new public space that influences the patterns of interaction, communication, and public participation in various social issues. This phenomenon shows that social media serves not only as a means of entertainment, but also as a strategic instrument in building collective awareness and organizing contemporary social movements. This article aims to analyze the role of social media in shaping public opinion, accelerating the dissemination of information, and mobilizing solidarity across geographical and cultural boundaries. This study uses a descriptive qualitative approach by analyzing literature, secondary data, and case studies of viral social movements on various digital platforms. The results of the analysis show that social media plays an important role in changing the pattern of community mobilization: from local actions to more inclusive global movements. However, its effectiveness is inseparable from challenges such as hoaxes, polarization of opinions, and the risk of algorithm manipulation. Therefore, the role of digital literacy and critical awareness is important so that social media truly becomes a medium that supports positive social transformation. This article concludes that social media is a new force in strengthening participatory democracy as well as a means to fight for social justice issues, provided that there is sound information management and responsible public participation.

The Dynamics of Participatory Democracy in Indonesia: Between Ideality and Socio-Political Reality

Masrin, Suriya Noor — Thu, 30 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Participatory democracy is one of the democratic models that emphasizes the active involvement of citizens in the public decision-making process. This concept was born as a criticism of procedural democracy which tends to be elitist and only emphasizes the formal aspects of elections. In Indonesia, the practice of participatory democracy began to develop in line with the 1998 political reform that opened up space for freedom of opinion and expanded public access to control the running of government. However, the ideal of participatory democracy is not always in line with the socio-political reality on the ground. Structural barriers, such as rigid bureaucracy, a culture of patronage politics, dominance of political elites, and limited public political literacy, often reduce the effectiveness of participation. This article aims to analyze the dynamics between the ideals of participatory democracy and the reality of its practice in Indonesia. The research method uses a qualitative approach by studying the literature, analyzing documents, previous research results, and regulations related to political participation. The results of the study show that despite significant progress in public engagement, participatory democratic practices are still characterized by unequal access, transactional practices, and weak institutionalization of participation spaces. The discussion emphasized the importance of strengthening civil society capacity, sustainable political education, and policies that support substantive participation. This article concludes that participatory democracy in Indonesia is at the intersection of normative expectations and complex practical realities, thus requiring adaptive strategies that integrate democratic ideals with local socio-political conditions.

Humanities Analysis in the Context of Sustainable Development; Gender, Justice, and Economic Empowerment

Alpa Ahmadi, Antika Salman Paris, Nattapat Tanwattana — Thu, 30 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Gender issues and economic justice increasingly occupy a central position in the discourse of sustainable development. The gender gap that still exists in various sectors, especially in access to education, employment, and asset ownership, shows the need for a more comprehensive strategy in realizing social justice. This article discusses how humanities perspectives, especially gender studies, moral philosophy, and sociology, can provide a deeper understanding of the power relations between men and women in an economic context. Through a literature review, this article highlights the importance of women's economic empowerment as a strategic step in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially on goal 5 (gender equality) and goal 8 (decent work and economic growth). The results of the study show that economic empowerment not only increases women's independence, but also creates a multiplier effect on family and community welfare. However, challenges in the form of patriarchal culture, structural discrimination, and limited access to technology are still obstacles. Therefore, an inclusive, participatory, and local wisdom-based gender-based approach is needed so that the transformation towards socio-economic justice can be achieved in a sustainable manner.

Local Language as Social Capital: A Sociolinguistic Study in Building the Cohesion of a Multicultural Society

Gold Sunday Chukwuemeka, Muhammad Yamin — Thu, 30 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Local languages are one of the important instruments in building social cohesion in a multicultural society. In Indonesia, regional language diversity not only functions as a means of communication, but also as social capital that strengthens social ties, collective identity, and solidarity between citizens. This study aims to analyze the role of local languages in building the cohesion of multicultural communities through a sociolinguistic perspective. The research was conducted with a qualitative approach through literature studies, text analysis, and comparative studies of several practices of using local languages in social interactions. The results of the study show that local language is a symbol of identity that strengthens a sense of belonging in a certain community as well as a means of identity negotiation in a multicultural context. On the other hand, local languages play a role in building social networks based on common beliefs and norms that strengthen social solidarity. However, challenges arise when local languages experience a decline in function due to the dominance of national and global languages. Therefore, the preservation of local languages through education, media, and cultural activities needs to be strengthened to maintain its role as social capital. This study emphasizes that local languages are not only cultural heritage, but also a strategic instrument to strengthen social cohesion in the midst of the plurality of Indonesian society.