Simulacra
Vol 9, No 1: 2026

Reactive-pragmatic activism: The trend and pattern of Indonesia’s Generation Z digital movement

Cep Deni Muchlis (Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Islam Negeri Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, Jl. Kertamukti No. 5, Ciputat Timur, Tangerang Selatan, Banten, Indonesia 15419)
A. Bakir Ihsan (Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Islam Negeri Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, Jl. Kertamukti No. 5, Ciputat Timur, Tangerang Selatan, Banten, Indonesia 15419)
Mohammad Hasan Ansori (Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Islam Negeri Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, Jl. Kertamukti No. 5, Ciputat Timur, Tangerang Selatan, Banten, Indonesia 15419)
Ismail Suardi Wekke (Research Fellow, The University of South Wales, Liantwit Rd, Pontypridd, United Kingdom CF 37 1DL)



Article Info

Publish Date
18 Jun 2026

Abstract

This study aims to explore the manner in which Generation Z (Gen Z) engages with socio-political activities in the digital sphere, where the swift dissemination of information influences the nature and intensity of collective actions. The findings indicate that Gen Z's responses to socio-political issues are generally expressed in two paradoxical mainstreams: apolitical tendencies (political alienation) and political tendencies (political activism), each of which exhibiting distinct variations. To examine this phenomenon, the study mainly employs a semi-systematic literature review (semi-SLR), analyzing 40 curated articles from an initial pool of 200 Scopus-indexed publications (2020–2025). The selection process adhered to a rigorous semi PRISMA-based framework. The methodological analysis reveals that Gen Z's engagement with socio- political phenomena tends to intensify as these issues predominantly gain attention on social media (the digital realm). However, this intensification has not consistently resulted in substantive political change. Indeed, at a certain juncture, Gen Z movements remain in what Dahrendorf termed as the "quasi- group" phase, which potentially evolves into a highly responsive collective action when triggered by pragmatic and significant issues. This phenomenon is referred to as a reactive-pragmatic activism, a form of activism motivated by the pursuit of immediate results without an ideological foundation.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

simulacra

Publisher

Subject

Social Sciences

Description

The scope of the journal includes general and specific areas of sociology, social work, social psychology, social statistics, criminology, social research methods, and other related disciplines. SIMULACRA: JURNAL SOSIOLOGI accepts both qualitative and quantitative journal manuscripts for ...