POLA KOMUNIKASI ANTARA MAHASISWA RANTAU GEN Z DENGAN ORANG TUA DI ERA DIGITAL ( Studi Pada Mahasiswa Ilmu Komunikasi 2022)

This research is motivated by the changing patterns of family communication in the digital era, particularly among Generation Z migrant students who rely on internet-based media to maintain closeness with their parents. The problem formulation of this study is how communication patterns develop between Gen Z migrant students and their parents in the digital era. The purpose of this study is to describe the forms of communication, communication intensity, and the quality of relationships built through digital media.
This study employs a descriptive qualitative method with purposive sampling. Six pairs of informants consisting of Communication Science students of the 2022 cohort and their parents were interviewed in depth. The data were analyzed narratively to identify relevant patterns, themes, and meanings.
The results indicate that communication is conducted regularly and flexibly through WhatsApp, voice calls, and video calls. Based on the Family Communication Patterns Theory (FCPT), the communication patterns that emerge tend to reflect a high conversation orientation, characterized by openness, storytelling, and emotional support. Meanwhile, analysis using the Relationship Maintenance framework reveals that relationship-maintenance behaviors such as assurances, positivity, and openness are dominant in students’ digital interactions with their parents. Parents provide guidance, advice, and emotional as well as spiritual support, while students use digital communication to maintain feelings of safety, closeness, and connectedness while living away from home.
In conclusion, digital technology plays a crucial role in sustaining emotional closeness between migrant students and their parents despite physical distance. This study suggests the importance of balancing digital communication with the development of student independence, as well as improving parents’ digital literacy to enhance communication effectiveness and minimize misunderstandings.