Representasi Kesepian Digital dalam Sastra Indonesia Era Media Sosial

Abstract

This study aims to examine the representation of digital loneliness in Indonesian literature in the social media era by positioning literature as a medium for reflecting the emotional and cultural experiences of digital society. The development of social media has changed the way individuals build relationships, shape identities, and express themselves, while simultaneously giving rise to a paradox of connectedness that triggers feelings of loneliness. This study starts from the assumption that contemporary Indonesian literature, both in print and digital forms, records and processes the experience of digital loneliness symbolically, critically, and reflectively. This study uses a qualitative approach with thematic and semiotic analysis methods on Indonesian literary works that represent digital experiences, particularly those related to social media. Data are analyzed to identify patterns of representation of digital loneliness, the narrative forms and symbols used, and their relationship to the social and cultural context of digital. The results show that digital loneliness is represented through several main patterns, namely loneliness amidst connectivity, virtual relationships that are pseudo, identity crises due to the fragmentation of online and offline selves, and the existential exhaustion of the younger generation due to the pressures of social media performativity. This study confirms that Indonesian literature in the social media era not only reflects the psychosocial impact of digital technology but also functions as a space for cultural criticism and negotiation of the meaning of humanity. Thus, this study contributes to the development of contemporary Indonesian literary studies and digital literature by presenting the perspective of digital loneliness as a relevant and multidimensional cultural issue.