“Popularity is not success. Influence is.”
— John C. Maxwell
Social media is now a part of daily life in today's digital era, especially among youth. Social media websites like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube are highly used not only for communication and entertainment but also to express and identify themselves. While social media offers many advantages such as boosting creativity, connecting individuals around the globe, and creating spaces for diverse voices social media also raises some major challenges that never get noticed. One of the largest issues that affect Indonesian teenagers today is the identity crisis brought on by exposure to social networking.
Teenagers currently battle with a very complex internet world where it becomes very tough to build a perfect identity. According to studies conducted in the Journal UIR, Indonesian teenagers have a tendency to log on and build their own identity and also discover what suits them. However, this search for identity doesn't always run smoothly. Constant comparison with others, validation through likes and followers, and saturation with online trends can cause doubt about oneself and insecurity. Instead of facilitating true self discovery, social media can sometimes be a stage on which teenagers have felt compelled to perform identities that may or may not be their own.
This problem comes to the fore even more so in the area of content production. As content creators, most people are motivated by figures like views, likes, shares, and follower numbers. These figures come to serve as measures of success, compelling the creators to sacrifice value for fame. Fame and engagement then become the preoccupation, and sensationalism the priority. Controversial, or sensational content is more likely to attract larger audiences, thus securing more visibility and, in most cases, revenue. Regrettably, this become a trend that could influence other to do so. Rather than enriching the online space, such content pollutes it, creating a dangerous precedent for other creatives.
This issue is perfectly aligned with "Kaset Pita" a FLS2N short movie, published through Joshua Michael's YouTube channel that won 1st place of FLS2N short movie competition in the national round.
The short film "Kaset Pita" tells the story of the reality of the digital world and the social pressures that surround today's content creators. Through the character of Damar, we can see the inner conflict of a teenager who is trapped in the circle of netizen expectations in order to maintain his existence and popularity on social media. The main meaning of this movie underlines the young generation who are experiencing a crisis of identity and creativity and are easily carried away by social media. The movie is about self-discovery and realizing the moral responsibility of a creator. Damar, who initially wants to upload sensational "flexing" content for popularity, is faced with an inner conflict in the form of a horrifying vision that symbolizes the destruction of values caused by negative content in cyberspace. In order to realize her flexing content, she was even forced to take out an online loan. Before going further down the wrong path, Damar wanted to stop the action. Then, he decided to look for inspiration in his surroundings. The strange incident he experienced earlier happened again, but this time he was transported to the past which reminded him of his father's message.
He was inspired to create content using Serdam, a traditional musical instrument from Lampung. Unexpectedly, his content went viral and attracted attention from all over the country and even abroad. He brings a positive impact to internet users, embracing collaboration and cooperation in the midst of diversity. He believes that if his father were still alive, he would be proud of his current achievements. The movie gives a message that popularity will be rewarded with meaningful, educative, and culturally rooted content, not from mere hype.
If I were in Damar's shoes, I would probably feel the same pressure to be accepted, to go viral, and to succeed quickly. However, Damar is different. By realizing how widely social media can spread information quickly, I would be more considerate of what I post on social media especially if the main goal is to become a content creator. Instead of following negative trends, I will try to create work that is relevant to the present while still educating and bringing a good impact to the audience. I believe that quality will find its way, even if it doesn't go viral right away.
This movie is very relevant to today's reality, especially among the younger generation who are competing to go viral on social media. My perspective sees this movie as a journey of Damar that shows how Damar not only transforms as a content creator, but also as a human being who is aware of values and identity. Damar, who initially only cared about popularity and personal success by bringing negative content to the public sphere, is now able to gain more popularity with educational content and he even introduces culture in the form of traditional musical instruments to the world through his content.
From a personal perspective, Kaset Pita is more than just a short film, it is a social reflection on how the internet has changed the way we create, think and interact. It taught me that being a content creator is not just about creativity, but also about integrity. It is also a reminder that our culture, which is often considered "outdated", can actually be a strength in building identity and global competitiveness.