The Influence of Digital Media Usage Intensity on the Level of Local Cultural Awareness among Generation Z in Indonesia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35870/ijecs.v5i1.4000Keywords:
Digital Media, Generation Z, Local Culture, Cultural Awareness, Cultural RevitalizationAbstract
Digital technology has expanded rapidly in the past two decades and has changed how young people connect, find information, and form their cultural identities. In Indonesia, these changes are mostly seen in Generation Z, a group whose daily lives are very much a part of digital systems. This study looks at how much using digital media affects local culture awareness among Indonesian young people by focusing on how global content exposure and the small visibility of local cultural materials in digital spaces shape cultural knowledge, attitudes, and participation. A quantitative survey was held with 384 respondents and was supported by in-depth interviews and digital observations to get a wider view of media consumption patterns. The results show a significant negative relationship between digital media intensity and cultural awareness which means that engaging frequently with digital platforms—largely dominated by global entertainment—reduces opportunities for meaningful cultural exposure. On the other hand, this study finds that encounters with digital content featuring Indonesian cultural elements have positively and substantially impacts awareness of culture by enhancing both emotional connection as well as participation in activities related to the culture. These results highlight how dually functioning digital media may contribute to cultural dilution but at the same time offer a strong way for revitalizing culture if local traditions are presented through modern appealing and interactive formats. This study emphasizes collaboration among cultural institutions, educators, policymakers, and digital creators to culturally relevant content within the digital environment. Such representation must be strengthened to maintain continuity of culture as well as support developing cultural identity for Generation Z in an increasingly globalized and digitized world.
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