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This study aims to analyze the phenomenon of flexing on social media as a representation of social status in digital society through the perspectives of Jean Baudrillard’s simulacra theory and Erving Goffman’s self-presentation theory. The research employs a qualitative method using content analysis of social media posts, particularly on Instagram and TikTok, that display flexing practices. The research data consist of photos and videos containing symbols of luxury, such as branded goods, luxury vehicles, exclusive locations, and consumptive lifestyles. The findings reveal that flexing is not merely an act of showing off, but also a conscious self-representation strategy used to construct a particular social image. The luxury symbols displayed often do not fully reflect reality, but rather represent identity constructions that have been selectively curated and manipulated according to the desired image. From the perspective of simulacra, these representations have replaced reality itself, causing the boundary between reality and representation to become increasingly blurred. Furthermore, the phenomenon of flexing is closely related to consumer culture, the need for social recognition, and personal branding strategies in the digital era. Exposure to flexing content also encourages social comparison, which may lead to psychological pressure among audiences. Therefore, flexing can be understood as a multidimensional phenomenon reflecting changes in how individuals construct identity, perceive reality, and gain social legitimacy within digital society.

The development of social media has brought significant changes in how individuals perceive themselves, especially among female university students who are in the stage of identity formation. Social media is not only used as a communication tool but also as a space that presents homogeneous beauty standards which can influence self-perception. This study aims to analyze the construction of beauty standards on social media and their impact on female students’ self-perception. The research uses a qualitative approach with a literature review method by analyzing 20  relevant academic articles published between 2020 and 2025. Data analysis was conducted using descriptive qualitative techniques, including data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion drawing. The results show that beauty standards on social media are constructed through repeated visual representations and reinforced by algorithmic systems, creating an idealized image of beauty. This condition encourages female students to engage in social comparison, leading to self-dissatisfaction and decreased self-confidence. However, these effects vary depending on individuals’ ability to filter and interpret information. This study highlights the importance of developing critical awareness in social media use to avoid being influenced by unrealistic beauty standards.

Flooding in Aceh has become a recurring phenomenon that cannot be understood solely as a natural disaster but also as a result of human activities within modern society. This study aims to analyze flooding in Aceh through the perspective of Ulrich Beck’s risk society theory, focusing on how modernization, environmental change, and development policies contribute to the production of risk. This research uses a literature review approach by examining scientific articles published between 2021 and 2026 from indexed national and international journals. The analysis was conducted thematically to identify patterns, similarities, and research gaps. The findings show that natural factors such as high rainfall and atmospheric conditions act as primary triggers, while human activities including land-use change, river sedimentation, and ineffective policies significantly intensify flood risks. Flooding is therefore categorized as a manufactured risk produced by modern development processes. In addition, the impacts are not limited to ecological damage but also affect social and psychological conditions of society. These results indicate that floods should be understood not only from a technical perspective but also from a social perspective. The study implies that flood management requires a comprehensive approach integrating environmental sustainability, social awareness, and evidence-based policy to reduce both the impact and sources of risk in a sustainable manner.

This study aims to examine how student lifestyles are represented on Instagram and how these representations can be understood through the concept of hyperreality. The research applies a qualitative approach using a literature review method by analyzing relevant scientific articles published within the last ten years. The findings indicate that Instagram is not only used as a communication medium but also as a space for self-representation. Students tend to upload curated content that highlights selected aspects of their lives, often emphasizing positive and visually appealing experiences. This practice reflects a process of constructing identity in the digital space. Through Jean Baudrillard’s perspective, these representations can be seen as forms of simulation that produce simulacra, where representations no longer directly refer to actual reality. As a result, a condition of hyperreality emerges, in which the boundary between reality and representation becomes increasingly blurred. This situation influences how students interpret social life and interact within digital environments. The study highlights the importance of understanding social media not only as a platform for interaction but also as a space where meanings and perceptions of reality are continuously shaped.

The dual role of women in family economics is a phenomenon shaped by the interplay of economic pressure and social construction within patriarchal society. This study aims to examine the dual role of women in family economics through Judith Butler's gender performativity perspective. The method used is a literature study with a descriptive qualitative data analysis approach, drawing on scientific sources published between 2020 and 2026. The findings indicate that women not only carry out domestic roles as housewives but are also actively involved in the public sphere to meet family economic needs. This condition gives rise to a double burden that affects physical exhaustion and psychological pressure. Within Butler's theoretical framework, the dual role is understood not as something natural, but as a product of social norms reproduced through repeated practices in everyday life. Nevertheless, women's participation in the public sphere has been shown to open spaces for increased independence and negotiation of gender relations within the family. This study underscores the importance of critical understanding of gender construction in order to achieve a fair and equal division of labor.

Flood disasters have repeatedly affected Aceh Tamiang Regency for over fifteen years, causing significant material and socio-cultural losses. This study aims to examine the social response of the community through a literature review approach, using Jurgen Habermas's Communicative Action Theory as the analytical framework. Data were collected systematically from national journal articles, scientific proceedings, and academic reports related to flood mitigation and community social response in Aceh Tamiang. Data analysis was conducted using content analysis and thematic analysis techniques. The findings reveal that the community's response is primarily driven by local solidarity rooted in cultural values and local wisdom such as hadih maja. In Habermasian terms, this social response reflects the lifeworld domain, manifesting in voluntary collective action. However, a structural tension exists between the government's top-down system and the community's communicative rationality. Effective disaster mitigation requires the development of participatory public spaces that bridge the system and lifeworld, enabling the transformation from instrumental action to communicative action, thereby strengthening collective resilience against flood disasters.

The development of social media in the digital era has significantly changed children’s social interaction patterns. Besides providing benefits such as easier access to information and opportunities for creativity, social media also brings negative impacts on children’s psychological, social, and moral development. This study aims to analyze the restriction of social media use among children from the perspective of Jürgen Habermas, especially regarding the concepts of the public sphere, communicative rationality, and the colonization of the lifeworld. This research uses a literature study method with a qualitative descriptive approach through the collection and analysis of relevant scientific articles. Data validity was strengthened through inclusion and exclusion criteria as well as source triangulation. The findings indicate that social media use among children has an ambivalent impact. Positive effects can emerge when there is strong parental supervision, while weak supervision increases the risk of exposure to harmful content, psychological problems, and reduced quality of social interaction. Restricting social media use through time regulation, content control, and digital education is considered important for protecting children’s development. From Habermas’s perspective, children are vulnerable in the digital public sphere because of their limited communicative rationality. Therefore, restrictions are viewed as efforts to protect children’s values and rationality from distortion by the digital media system.