Crafting Glocal Identities: Youth Digital Practices in Negotiating Local and Global Cultures

Abstract

Abstract The concurrent processes of digital transformation and glocalization have fundamentally reshaped how young people construct and negotiate their cultural identities. This study aims to examine how Indonesian youth negotiate and construct glocal identities through digital practices embedded in their everyday lives. A qualitative approach with a descriptive phenomenological design was employed. Data were collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews, digital walk-throughs, limited participant observation, and documentation. The participants were young people aged 17–24 years residing in Sidoarjo and Surabaya who were selected using purposive sampling. The analysis generated three main themes: (1) hybridity in cultural consumption and production practices, through which local and global elements are actively integrated; (2) digital spaces as emerging arenas for the exchange of cultural capital and the construction of social status; and (3) the use of reflexive strategies to manage and navigate digital identities, including the management of different social media accounts. The findings demonstrate that young people function as active agents who consciously reconstruct hybrid identities rather than merely passively receiving global cultural flows. Theoretically, this study contributes to the development of digital sociology by integrating the theoretical perspectives of Bourdieu, Giddens, and Robertson. Practically, the findings provide valuable insights for sociology educators, cultural policymakers, and creative industry practitioners in developing strategies to strengthen local identities while adapting to ongoing digitalization. Future research should extend the analysis to a broader range of social media platforms and more diverse cultural domains. Keywords: Glocal Identity; Digital Practices; Cultural Hybridity; Youth; Digital Sociology; Cultural Capital.