The Digital Kampung: Online Community Dynamics and the Role of Mediated Communication in Indonesia
Arsa Widitiarsa Utoyo- Kurnia Setiawan- Geofakta Razali- Algooth Putranto

Universitas Multimedia Nusantara- Universitas Tarumanagara - London School Public Relation - Universitas Dian Nusantara

Abstract

The integration of digital technologies into everyday life has reconfigured community interactions in Indonesia, producing online environments that replicate the social structures of traditional kampung communities. This paper investigates these ^digital kampung^ spaces through the analytical frameworks of Mediatization Theory and Cultural Proximity Theory. Using qualitative content analysis, the study examines communicative practices in selected community-based Facebook groups, WhatsApp networks, and localized marketplace platforms. The analysis identifies how mediated communication transforms gotong royong (mutual assistance) into hybrid forms of interaction that combine online coordination with offline action. Cultural proximity remains central, as shared language, symbols, and locally relevant narratives sustain a sense of belonging across geographically dispersed members. Nevertheless, the findings also highlight tensions, including the circulation of misinformation, disparities in digital access, and evolving norms of trust. The study concludes that the digital kampung represents both a continuity and an adaptation of Indonesia^s communal traditions, illustrating how digital platforms can mediate social cohesion while negotiating the cultural specificities of diverse urban-rural contex

Keywords: digital kampung, mediated communication, mediatization theory, cultural proximity, online community, Indonesia

Topic: Digital Communication for Inclusive Societies