From community to individuality : how digital media accessibility has changed the meaning of traditional Flores culture for young adults

Indonesia’s status as the 4th most populous country and largest Muslin majority nation make its economic rise (pre Covid-19) important as the world becomes more globally connected. The young adults of Indonesia represent its most media-savvy population, growing up as their country has developed internet infrastructure and grown its middle class. Young adults’ response to this rapid change over the past twenty years has been broadly studied across the nation, with specific emphasis given to the more urbanized western region. This analysis seeks to build on this body of work by zooming in on Indonesia’s more rural Eastern half, specifically in the Ngada region of the island of Flores and the traditional culture therewith in through ten interviews with young adults (ages eighteen to twenty-five) and older adults (ages forty and up). Flores, much like the rest of Eastern Indonesia, has lagged behind in urbanization and internet infrastructure, with its economy beginning to expand beyond agriculture as the island has experienced more connectivity through mobile data access. The changing media landscape has crafted a new reality for the young adults of Flores and as a result shifted the way in which they relate to their traditional culture. Compared with the previous generation, which discusses traditional culture in terms of their community, the current young adults of Flores have begun to relate to the ceremonies of rituals they participate in with concepts of individuality, which may be more appropriate as their futures may take them off of Flores and even out of Indonesia