The PKM-RSH IPB University Team Reveals the Social Meaning Behind the #KaburAjaDulu Trend as the Aspiration of Indonesia’s Generation Z
The IPB University Social Humanities Research Student Creativity Program (PKM-RSH) team, ‘GenKaburAjaDulu’, examined the viral phenomenon #KaburAjaDulu, which was once popular on social media, especially X.
Through their research titled ‘The Drama of Generation Z: Exploring the #KaburAjaDulu Trend on X Social Media as a Symbol of Migration Discourse and the Social Aspirations of Indonesia’s Generation Z’, the team sought to uncover the meaning behind the trend as a reflection of the aspirations and social concerns of Indonesia’s younger generation.
The hashtag #KaburAjaDulu has recently become a form of expression for Gen Z to voice their concerns about various situations in the country. For the team, this trend is not just a joke or a momentary escape, but represents a crisis of trust and hope for a better future in Indonesia.
“Every narrative that appears on social media has an explicit and implicit message. That is where we focus our efforts to understand the various meanings that arise from #KaburAjaDulu,” said Fauzan Maulana, the student team leader.
The team consists of Fauzan Maulana, Helmi Falah, Naufal Akmaluqyan Muhammad, Fatimatul Nasywa Adzkya, and Aenur Rizqi Awaliyah, with Dr Annisa Utami Seminar, a lecturer at the Faculty of Human Ecology, IPB University, as their supervisor.
In their research, the team combined sentiment and content analysis methods on social media X, focus group discussions (FGD), and Delphi surveys.
Fauzan said the Delphi method was chosen because it allows for the gradual collection of views from Gen Z, the diaspora, and experts to reach a consensus.
“This approach makes the research results more in-depth, as it not only traces surface trends but also delves into the symbolic meaning behind the hashtag #KaburAjaDulu,” he said.
Preliminary research findings indicate that some netizens interpret the trend as an escape from life’s pressures. Others view it as a strategy for self-development, seeking new experiences, and continuing to contribute to Indonesia.
“Since the hashtag first appeared in September 2023, the public has expressed many negative opinions. However, there are still neutral conversations that simply join in the hype. But as the popularity of this hashtag increases, the negative sentiment becomes more dominant. We analyzed this using IndoBERTweet to read public sentiment,” explained Fauzan.
Of the more than seven thousand posts analyzed, most contained expressions of fatigue, disappointment, and criticism of the social situation. However, a number of informants emphasized that this narrative should be directed in a more constructive direction.
The symbol of “running away” can be interpreted as an encouragement to grow, learn, and achieve a better future without having to leave one’s homeland. (dr)(IAAS/KQA)
