Reconstructing Local Identity and Character Values Through Digital Historical Narratives: A Netnography of TikTok's Telisik Pati Community

Taufikin Taufikin, Gulnaz Fatma

Abstract


The development of digital space has led to local historical narratives being increasingly consumed by the younger generation, yet these narratives are not yet fully understood as a platform for character building. This situation has created a gap between the potential of digital historiography as a medium for teaching values and its practical application. This study aims to understand how historical narratives are produced by the TikTok account Telisik Pati shape character values through interactions within the online community. Using a netnographic approach, the study analyzed 19 videos and thousands of comments from October 2024 to December 2025. Digital observation, thematic analysis, and contextual interpretation were used to reveal the value patterns that emerge in the content and user responses. The results of the study reveal four main patterns of character formation: moral-religious values manifested through historical reflection; solidarity and guyub-rukun (harmony) reinforced by local identity narratives; the appreciation of Javanese traditions and ethics revitalized through digital dialogue; and ecological awareness that grows from the connection between history and natural space. Public interaction reveals a collaborative process of value internalization, in which historical narratives function not only as information but also as emotional and pedagogical media. The discussion confirms that digital historiography plays a significant role as a character-building tool within a strong local culture. This study concludes that digital historical narratives can be an effective strategy for strengthening character values in the social media era. The implications include the utilization of historical content for character education and the reinforcement of local identity in digital communities.

Full Text:

PDF

References


Almeida, Fernando, and Zoltan Buzady. 2022. “Development of Soft Skills Competencies through the Use of FLIGBY.” Technology, Pedagogy and Education 31(4):417–30. doi:10.1080/1475939X.2022.2058600.

Asname, Fatine, and Abla Berrada. 2024. “Netnography: An Innovative Approach to Qualitative Research in the Digital Age.” Pp. 1–22 in Qualitative Approaches to Pedagogical Engineering, edited by D. Elomari. IGI Global.

Barber, Wendy, and Sherry King. 2016. “Teacher-Student Perspectives of Invisible Pedagogy: New Directions in Online Problem-Based Learning Environments.” Electronic Journal of E-Learning 14(4):235–43.

Bosch, Miriam Díez, and Josep Lluís Micó. 2023. “Internet, Mobile Technology, and Religion.” Pp. 503–20 in The Handbook on Religion and Communication, edited by Y. Cohen and P. A. Soukup. wiley.

Braun, Virginia, and Victoria Clarke. 2006. “Using Thematic Analysis in Psychology.” Qualitative Research in Psychology 3(2):77–101. doi:10.1191/1478088706qp063oa.

Braun, Virginia, and Victoria Clarke. 2019. “Reflecting on Reflexive Thematic Analysis.” Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health 11(4):589–97. doi:10.1080/2159676X.2019.1628806.

Buragohain, Dipima, Yahui Meng, Chaoqun Deng, Qirui Li, and Sushank Chaudhary. 2024. “Digitalizing Cultural Heritage through Metaverse Applications: Challenges, Opportunities, and Strategies.” Heritage Science 12(1):295. doi:10.1186/s40494-024-01403-1.

Burkey, Brant. 2022. “From Bricks to Clicks: How Digital Heritage Initiatives Create a New Ecosystem for Cultural Heritage and Collective Remembering.” Journal of Communication Inquiry 46(2):185–205. doi:10.1177/01968599211041112.

Campbell, Heidi A. 2010. When Religion Meets New Media. Routledge Taylor & Francis Group.

Cervi, Laura, and Tom Divon. 2023. “Playful Activism: Memetic Performances of Palestinian Resistance in TikTok #Challenges.” Social Media and Society 9(1). doi:10.1177/20563051231157607.

Creswell, John W., and J. David Creswell. 2022. Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches. 6th ed. New York: SAGE Publication.

Ding, Yidan, Yichen Xiao, Yumei Jiang, and Anhua Zhou. 2025. “The Mediatization of Religion: How Digital-Age Film and Television Reshape Interfaith Experiences.” Religions 16(9). doi:10.3390/rel16091172.

Ekelund, Robin. 2023. “Connective Memory.” Pp. 1–5 in The Palgrave Encyclopedia of Memory Studies. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham.

El Sayed, Fatima, and Nader Hotait. 2024. “Exploring the Role of TikTok for Intersectionality Marginalized Groups: The Case of Muslim Female Content Creators in Germany.” Frontiers in Political Science 6. doi:10.3389/fpos.2024.1496833.

Gladwin, Derek. 2020. “Digital Storytelling Going Viral: Using Narrative Empathy to Promote Environmental Action.” Media Practice and Education 21(4):275–88. doi:10.1080/25741136.2020.1832827.

Gunagraha, Shindid, and Kholilurrahman Kholilurrahman. 2024. “Preserving Local Traditions in the Digital Age: Adapting the ‘Mapak Tanggal’ Ritual as an Intergenerational Solution.” JURNAL ISLAM NUSANTARA 8(2):219–32. doi:10.33852/jurnalnu.v8i2.569.

Hatef, Azeta. 2022. “‘The Facebook Is a State of Roma’: Negotiating Identities, Building Communities, and Belongingness Online among Roma in the Czech Republic.” New Media and Society 24(2):328–44. doi:10.1177/14614448211063174.

Hnit, Hussein, and Ali Almanna. 2025. “Constructing Identity through Narratives: Personal, Social, and Digital Dimensions.” Social Sciences and Humanities Open 12. doi:10.1016/j.ssaho.2025.101692.

Irwanto, Irwanto, Tuti Bahfiarti, and Andi Alimuddin Unde. 2025. “Digital Transformation of Youth Violence in Indonesia: New Responsibilities and Social Negotiations in the Digital Age.” Frontiers in Communication 10. doi:10.3389/fcomm.2025.1576389.

Ismail, Ahmad. 2025. “Sounding Identity in the Digital Age: Eastern Indonesia’s Musical Voices on Tiktok.” Frontiers in Communication 10. doi:10.3389/fcomm.2025.1651788.

Iturralde de Bracamonte, Javier, and María Fragoso Mora. 2025. “Museums on TikTok: Key Strategies for Attracting Generation Z.” Museum International 77(1–2):28–41. doi:10.1080/13500775.2025.2540203.

Jordaan, Martina, and Nita Mennega. 2025. “Capturing Memories: An Engaged Research Project Using Community Digital Storytelling.” International Journal of Interdisciplinary Social and Community Studies 20(1):97–111. doi:10.18848/2324-7576/CGP/v20i01/97-111.

Kozinets, Robert V. 2002. “The Field behind the Screen: Using Netnography for Marketing Research in Online Communities.” Journal of Marketing Research 39(1):61–72. doi:10.1509/jmkr.39.1.61.18935.

Kułaga, Wojciech. 2024. “Revolutionizing Visual Communication and Digital Creative Engagement: The Game-Changing Impact of TikTok.” Przeglad Socjologii Jakosciowej 20(3):212–35. doi:10.18778/1733-8069.20.3.10.

Liguori, Antonia. 2020. “Unlocking Contested Stories and Grassroots Knowledge.” Pp. 465–79 in Springer International Handbooks of Education. Vol. Part F1618. Springer Nature.

Ma’rof, Aini Azeqa, and Haslinda Abdullah. 2025. “Faith in the Digital Era: Transformations in Youth Spirituality and Belief Systems.” Pp. 227–58 in Youth, Faith, and Artificial Intelligence, edited by Z. Zaremohzzabieh, R. Abdullah, R. S. Al-Issa, and S. Ahrari. IGI Global.

Mayrita, Hastari, Shopia Rahmawati, Hani Atus Sholikhah, Wuttipong Wongprakob, Marzul Hidayat, Fortunasari Fortunasari, Ella Masita, and Lenny Marzulina. 2025. “LANGUAGE POLITENESS IN DIGITAL STREAMING: THE IMPLICATIONS TO EDUCATION AND ETHICS IN COMMUNICATIONS FOR THE TECHNOLOGICAL ERA.” Jurnal Ilmiah Ilmu Terapan Universitas Jambi 9(3):1079–90. doi:10.22437/jiituj.v9i3.44388.

McCormack, Christopher Michael, Jennifer K. Martin, and Kathryn J. H. Williams. 2021. “The Full Story: Understanding How Films Affect Environmental Change through the Lens of Narrative Persuasion.” People and Nature 3(6):1193–1204. doi:10.1002/pan3.10259.

Melnyk, Roman, Galyna Volkova, Mariia Hvozdetska, Oleksii Bashmanivskyi, and Iryna Perederii. 2025. “Digital Transformation of Cultural Heritage: Prospects and Threats.” International Journal on Culture, History, and Religion 7(SI1):1143–68. doi:10.63931/ijchr.v7iSI1.381.

Nisi, Valentina, Paulo Bala, Vanessa Cesário, Stuart James, Alessio Del Bue, and Nuno Jardim Nunes. 2023. “‘Connected to the People’: Social Inclusion & Cohesion in Action through a Cultural Heritage Digital Tool.” Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction 7(CSCW2). doi:10.1145/3610168.

Nurhayati, Lilis, Udin Supriadi, Jenuri Jenuri, and Abdul Karim. 2025. “Integrating Digital Citizenship and Religious Moderation in Open and Distance Education: A Holistic Approach to Character Development in Indonesia.” Asian Association of Open Universities Journal. doi:10.1108/AAOUJ-02-2025-0025.

Ottó, Beke. 2021. “The future of education: preparing for digital life and work: Reflections on the book A digitális pedagógia elmélete (2020) by Zoltán Szűts.” Civil Szemle 18(1):135–43.

Panchal, Pusti, and Beenu Mago. 2024. “Social Media as a Tool for Cultural Preservation among Diaspora Communities.” International Journal for Global Academic and Scientific Research 3(3):14–20. doi:10.55938/ijgasr.v3i3.79.

Purkis, Harriet. 2017. “Making Digital Heritage about People’s Life Stories.” International Journal of Heritage Studies 23(5):434–44. doi:10.1080/13527258.2016.1190392.

Quiroz, Glenis Bibiana Álvarez, Miguel Ángel Palomino Hawasly, and Julio José Rangel Vellojín. 2025. “DIGITAL NARRATIVES ON CYBERBULLYING, SEXTING, AND GROOMING AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS: DEVELOPMENT OF A PLATFORM FOR VISUALIZATION.” Interciencia 50(3):176–85.

Rahayu, Suci, Sariyatun Sariyatun, Leo Agung Sutimin, and Deny Tri Ardianto. 2025. “Multimodal Digital Learning and Local Indigenous Frameworks to Enhance Critical Thinking in History Learning.” Ianna Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies 7(2):804–18. doi:10.5281/zenodo.15601605.

Ricoeur, Paul, and John B. Thompson. 2016. Hermeneutics and the Human Sciences: Essays on Language, Action and Interpretation. Cambridge University Press.

Rochayanti, Christina, Ida Wiendijarti, Kuswarsantyo, and Rosalia Indriyati Saptatiningsih. 2019. “Preservation Media of Local Culture.” in J. Phys. Conf. Ser. Vol. 1254. Institute of Physics Publishing.

San Cornelio, Gemma, Sandra Martorell, and Elisenda Ardèvol. 2023. “‘My Goal Is to Make Sustainability Mainstream’: Emerging Visual Narratives on the Environmental Crisis on Instagram.” Frontiers in Communication 8. doi:10.3389/fcomm.2023.1265466.

Squires, Vicki. 2023. “Thematic Analysis.” Pp. 463–68 in Varieties of Qualitative Research Methods: Selected Contextual Perspectives, edited by J. M. Okoko, S. Tunison, and K. D. Walker. Cham: Springer International Publishing.

Storie, Leysan Khakimova, and Sarah Marschlich. 2025. “Cultural Citizenship Processes on Social Media: How Women Negotiate Identity Online.” Media, Culture and Society 47(5):989–1006. doi:10.1177/01634437241308733.

Takhar, Amandeep, Gaye Bebek, and Ahmad Jamal. 2023. “Activists of Themselves: Liminality of Instagram and Its Role in the Ethnic Identity Construction Processes of Third Generation British Sikhs to Their Imagined Identities.” International Journal of Information Management 70. doi:10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2021.102467.

Tang, Mui Joo, and Eang Teng Chan. 2020. “Social Media: Influences and Impacts on Culture.” Pp. 491–501 in Adv. Intell. Sys. Comput. Vol. 1228 AISC. Springer.

Veluri, Sirisha, P. S. Harsha, Muntha Raju, and Kandru Suresh. 2025. “From Classrooms to Digital Spaces: The Evolution of Learning with AI and Technology.” Journal of Engineering Education Transformations 38(Special Issue 2):375–83. doi:10.16920/jeet/2025/v38is2/25045.

Vizcaíno-Verdú, Arantxa. 2024. “Decolonising the Music on TikTok: ‘Let’s Duet!’” Revista Mediterranea de Comunicacion 15(1):341–55. doi:10.14198/MEDCOM.24949.

Walsh, Katie. 2020. “Participant Observation.” Pp. 39–42 in International Encyclopedia of Human Geography (Second Edition), edited by A. Kobayashi. Oxford: Elsevier.

Zulli, Diana, and David James Zulli. 2022. “Extending the Internet Meme: Conceptualizing Technological Mimesis and Imitation Publics on the TikTok Platform.” New Media and Society 24(8):1872–90. doi:10.1177/1461444820983603.




DOI: https://doi.org/10.15548/thje.v8i1.13090

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Copyright (c) 2026 Taufikin Taufikin, Gulnaz Fatma

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.