Exploring the Lived Experience of Cultural Identity Negotiation Among Urban Youth in the Digital Era

Abstract

Cultural identity formation among urban youth has become an important topic in social and cultural studies, particularly in the context of globalization and digital transformation. While existing research has addressed identity dynamics in digital spaces, there remains limited understanding of how young individuals subjectively experience and interpret their cultural identity in daily life. This study addresses that gap by exploring the lived experiences of urban youth in negotiating local cultural identity amid global digital influences. Using an interpretative phenomenological approach (IPA), this study investigates how identity is experienced, reflected upon, and reshaped through digital interaction and cultural engagement. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight urban youth in Indonesia aged between 18 and 24 years old, all of whom identify as Indonesian nationals. Data were analyzed thematically to uncover core experiential themes. The findings reveal four central themes: fragmented belonging in digital spaces, reappropriation of traditional symbols, tensions between inherited norms and modern expression, and performative identity shaped by social validation. These insights demonstrate that cultural identity among urban youth is not static but actively negotiated through personal meaning-making processes embedded in both online and offline environments. This research advances the field by offering a deeper experiential perspective on cultural hybridity and digital identity construction. The findings suggest that identity research must move beyond behavioral analysis to include interpretive accounts that reflect the affective and symbolic dimensions of lived experience. These results carry important implications for future studies in cultural psychology, youth studies, and digital ethnography.