The Tiktok Trends " Umur 25 harus punya apa" And "Ga apa-apa kan kalau...", From The Perspective of Male and Female Students

Abstract

This research examines the influence of TikTok’s viral narratives on the life expectations of Gen Z college students, specifically focusing on the "milestones at 25" versus "self-acceptance" trends. Utilizing Stuart Hall’s Reception Analysis, the study investigates how students at Universitas Islam Riau actively decode these contrasting digital messages based on their unique socio-cultural contexts. While the "umur 25 harus punya apa" trend reinforces societal pressures to achieve specific professional and economic markers, the "ga apa-apa kan kalau..." narrative offers an alternative framework centered on individual pacing and self-compassion. The findings categorize student interpretations into three distinct decoding positions: dominant-hegemonic (acceptance of social milestones), negotiated (selective adaptation of expectations), and oppositional (rejection of traditional success metrics). Ultimately, the research demonstrates that students are not passive consumers; rather, they critically navigate digital discourse to shape their own identities and future aspirations amidst competing societal pressures.