<![CDATA[Fenomena circle pertemanan di kalangan mahasiswa menunjukkan bagaimana identitas sosial terbentuk melalui proses interaksi sosial dalam kehidupan kampus. Mahasiswa tidak hanya berperan sebagai individu akademik, tetapi juga sebagai aktor sosial yang membangun jaringan pertemanan sebagai sarana pembentukan jati diri dan nilai sosial. Penelitian ini bertujuan memahami proses pembentukan identitas sosial mahasiswa melalui circle pertemanan di ruang fisik dan digital. Metode yang digunakan adalah kualitatif deskriptif dengan pendekatan studi pustaka (library research) berdasarkan teori Identitas Sosial Tajfel dan Turner serta teori Interaksionisme Simbolik Mead dan Blumer. Analisis dilakukan secara interpretatif dan komparatif terhadap literatur primer dan sekunder yang relevan. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa identitas sosial mahasiswa terbentuk melalui proses kategorisasi, identifikasi, dan perbandingan sosial yang menumbuhkan rasa memiliki terhadap kelompok (in-group) serta membedakan diri dari kelompok lain (out-group). Circle pertemanan menjadi arena negosiasi makna sosial dan pembentukan solidaritas, sementara ruang digital seperti grup WhatsApp dan media sosial memperluas interaksi simbolik yang memperkuat kohesi serta ekspresi identitas kolektif. Penelitian ini menyimpulkan bahwa circle pertemanan berperan penting dalam membentuk identitas sosial mahasiswa yang adaptif, reflektif, dan inklusif, sekaligus mencerminkan perubahan pola interaksi sosial generasi muda di era digital. The phenomenon of friendship circles among students shows how social identity is formed through the process of social interaction in campus life. Students not only act as academic individuals, but also as social actors who build a network of friends as a means of forming identity and social values. This study aims to understand the process of social identity formation of students through the circle of friends in the physical and digital space. The method used is descriptive qualitative with library research approach based on social identity theory of Tajfel and Turner and symbolic interactionism theory of Mead and Blumer. The analysis was carried out in an interpretative and comparative manner to the relevant primary and secondary literature. The results showed that the social identity of students is formed through the process of categorization, identification, and social comparison that fosters a sense of belonging to the group (in-group) and distinguish themselves from other groups (out-group). Friendship circles become arenas for negotiating social meaning and forming solidarity, while digital spaces such as WhatsApp groups and social media expand symbolic interactions that strengthen cohesion as well as the expression of collective identity. This study concludes that the circle of friends plays an important role in shaping the social identity of students who are adaptive, reflective, and inclusive, as well as reflecting the changing patterns of social interaction of the younger generation in the digital age.]]>
