JAKARTA — On a sweltering Saturday night in South Jakarta, a teenager named Maya, 19, is doing three things at once: filming a "thrift haul" for TikTok, chatting on Discord about the latest Manhwa, and ordering es kopi susu via Gojek. She is a Muslim, a gamer, a micro-influencer, and a political skeptic. She is also a member of the largest, most optimistic generation in Southeast Asia’s biggest economy.
By 2025, Indonesia is riding a demographic wave. With over 70 million Gen Zs (aged 13-27), the country is not just consuming culture—it is exporting it. From the mosques of Aceh to the surf breaks of Bali, a new identity is emerging. It is deeply local, fiercely digital, and surprisingly global. The Thrift Revolution ( Berkebaya ): The secondhand
Here are the tectonic shifts defining Indonesian youth culture today. youth are monetizing hobbies via dropshipping
For decades, Indonesian youth aspired to Western or Korean pop ideals. Not anymore. The new cool is Sangat Indonesia (Very Indonesian). anti-fast-fashion statement. |
Indonesian youth are among the most connected in the world. They do not just use the internet; they live on it.
| Trend | Description | Example | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | The Side Hustle Economy | Driven by low entry-level salaries and the desire for flexible work, youth are monetizing hobbies via dropshipping, content creation, or digital products. | TikTok Shop affiliates; students selling digital planners via Instagram. | | Anxiety & Achievement Culture | Intense pressure to succeed academically and professionally fuels a parallel boom in online therapy apps (Riliv) and "study with me" livestreams. | The term toxic produktivitas (toxic productivity) is widely discussed. | | Safari & Activism | Social issues (climate, LGBTQ+ rights, corruption) are engaged with via "clicktivism" (signing Change.org petitions) and trend-driven campaigns (e.g., #PantangKenaMental). | Mass reposting of news on Instagram Stories; crowdfunding via Kitabisa.com. | | Conscious Consumption | Growing awareness of waste (especially plastic) and ethical labor, though still secondary to price and convenience. | The rise of thrifting (baju bekas) as a cool, anti-fast-fashion statement. |