<![CDATA[The emergence of the “Marriage is Scary” narrative among Generation Z reflects changing perspectives on marriage in the digital era. This study aims to explore how Generation Z interprets their fear of marriage and the social experiences that shape these perceptions. This research used a qualitative phenomenological approach involving five Generation Z participants aged 18–21 years selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). The findings identified five main themes: fear of marital risks, doubts and unpreparedness for marriage, concerns about relationship quality, the influence of social environment and patriarchal culture, and the impact of social media. These findings indicate that fear of marriage among Generation Z is shaped by personal experiences, social observations, and digital narratives. Munculnya narasi “Marriage is Scary” di kalangan Generasi Z menunjukkan adanya perubahan cara pandang terhadap pernikahan di era digital. Penelitian ini bertujuan memahami bagaimana Generasi Z memaknai ketakutan terhadap pernikahan serta pengalaman sosial yang membentuk persepsi tersebut. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode kualitatif dengan pendekatan fenomenologi. Lima informan Generasi Z berusia 18–21 tahun dipilih melalui purposive sampling. Data dikumpulkan melalui wawancara semi-terstruktur dan dianalisis menggunakan Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Hasil penelitian mengidentifikasi lima tema utama, yaitu ketakutan terhadap risiko pernikahan, keraguan dan ketidaksiapan menikah, kekhawatiran terhadap kualitas hubungan, pengaruh lingkungan sosial dan budaya patriarki, serta pengaruh media sosial terhadap persepsi pernikahan. Temuan ini menunjukkan bahwa ketakutan terhadap pernikahan dipengaruhi oleh pengalaman pribadi, pengamatan sosial, dan paparan narasi digital. ]]>
