Antara Tahlilan dan TikTok: Identitas Keagamaan dan Kehidupan Digital Gen Z Nahdliyin

Abstract

Entering its second century, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) carries a monumental legacy: a network of Islamic boarding schools (pesantren) deeply rooted across the archipelago, a centuries-tested tradition of moderation, and a social base comprising 57.2% of Indonesia's Muslim population. Yet, behind these staggering figures lies an equally formidable challenge. Young Nahdliyin—particularly Generation Z (born 1997–2012)—are growing up not only on the porches of pesantren, but also amidst TikTok algorithms and YouTube content streams that recognize neither organizational boundaries nor traditional chains of scholarly transmission (sanad). This article explores three interrelated fundamental questions. First, how do young NU members shape their religious identities in the digital era? Second, why do figures outside the NU ecosystem wield greater influence among Nahdliyin Gen Z? Third, how robust is this generation's national commitment, a value long regarded as the deepest soul of the NU tradition? This study utilizes data from the Alvara Research Center National Survey (2025, $N = 1,208$) and the APJII Internet Penetration Survey (2026, $N = 8,700$), drawing upon the theoretical frameworks of identity formation (Erikson, 1968), generation theory (Mannheim, 1952), and Digital Islam studies (Bunt, 2009; Eickelman & Anderson, 2003). The findings reveal four main insights: (1) Nahdliyin Gen Z predominantly occupy the Cultural Nahdliyin stratum, which nationally accounts for 59.7% of all NU members, registering the lowest NU-ness Index score among all generational groups ($67.77/100$); (2) the Organizational Ties dimension represents the weakest point ($62.13$) and the only dimension showing a continuous decline; (3) preaching figures outside the NU ecosystem command a wider following among Nahdliyin Gen Z compared to NU's own clerics (ulama); and (4) Gen Z’s national commitment remains relatively stable at $69.73$, yet it is more affective than deliberative, rendering it vulnerable to shifting narratives. NU’s core dilemma is not a matter of numbers, but of depth and relevance; consequently, an adaptive regeneration framework is urgently required, encompassing the reconstruction of cadre development, the strengthening of the digital ecosystem, and the renewal of national narratives suited to the younger generation.