The Impact of Social Media on Intercultural Communication in Indonesia

Abstract

In the present age of digital communication, time has been compressed by reducing the distance between different points in space, and the sense of space has led people to feel that local, national, and global space becomes obsolete. All these innovations in digital media, in form of social media, have changed and continue to change the way we think, act, and live.  Emerging topical areas in this line of research mainly include three categories: the impact of national/ethnic culture on the development of social media, the impact of social media on cultural/social identity, and the impact of social media on different aspects of intercultural communication.This study uses qualitative research methods with data collection technique using observation, interview, and study documents and descriptive data analysis techniques. This study examines the trend of research on the relationship between social media and intercultural communication. The results indicate that the relationship between social media and intercultural communication in Indonesia. It is argued that social medianot only provides a space in which people of different cultures can freely express their opinions and establish relationships, but may also challenge the existence of human communication in intracultural and intercultural contexts because of its specific characteristics that are significantly dissimilar to traditional media.