Indonesian youth are fashion-conscious, with 71% of respondents in a recent survey stating that they prioritize fashion and style. Local brands and designers are gaining popularity, but international brands such as Nike, Adidas, and Uniqlo remain highly sought after. Beauty and skincare are also important, with 60% of Indonesian youth prioritizing skincare and makeup.
While Instagram is for polished highlights, Twitter is for maki (cursing), political discourse, and fandom wars. The most powerful youth subcultures— BTS Army Indonesia (one of the largest in the world) and K-Netz —organize on Twitter. While Instagram is for polished highlights, Twitter is
Perhaps the most unique aspect of Indonesian youth culture is that it doesn't reject the past. You see this in —a fashion trend where young people wear traditional Batik or Kain (wrapped cloth) as everyday streetwear. You see this in —a fashion trend where
Indonesia is moderate Muslim majority, but Gen Z is redefining piety. They don't want Ustadz (preachers) yelling at them about hellfire. They want digital Ustadz on TikTok who talk about FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) regarding the afterlife. getting stuck in macet (traffic)
Gen Z in Indonesia loves the word kalem (calm/soft). Bands like , Matter Mos , and The Panturas (surf rock) have replaced aggressive beats with soothing guitars. These songs are the soundtrack for Galau (a uniquely Indonesian term for being lovesick, anxious, or melancholic). Unlike Western teens who listen to aggressive rap, Indonesian youth music prioritizes melody and storytelling about mundane life—waiting for the train, getting stuck in macet (traffic), or unrequited love.