The term klitih (Jogja night gangster), which originally referred to leisurely nighttime walks to relieve stress, has undergone a troubling shift in meaning which is now associated with violent acts committed by youths that have claimed lives.
According to Jogja Police Watch, there were 20 cases of street violence related to klitih in Yogyakarta throughout 2024. Alarmingly, this phenomenon has not only become a physical threat on Yogyakarta’s streets but has also transformed into digital content.
Such acts are recorded, uploaded, and even celebrated on social media, potentially glorifying aggression and turning it into a form of self-expression. Left unchecked, this digitalization of violence may distort young people’s perceptions of violence itself.
Concerned by this issue, a research team from Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) participating in the Student Creativity Program for Social Sciences and Humanities Research (PKM-RSH) conducted an in-depth study.
The team, comprising Vannia Ayu Kusuma Wardhani and Rika Horifatiyah from the Faculty of Psychology (Psychology UGM), Nasywa Adinda Ibrahim from the Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB UGM), and Khoirun Nisa’ Yulianti and Satria Tegar Perdana from the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (Fisipol UGM), was supervised by Dr. Indrayanti from Psychology UGM.
Known as the “Counter Klitih” Team, they explored how digital narratives influence youth behavior and proposed a new approach through digital counter-narratives.
“The digital counter-narrative strategy seeks to reshape the narrative surrounding klitih from something seen as cool or an identity search into something that must be rejected and avoided,” said Vannia Wardhani, the team leader, on Monday (Oct. 13).
The study involved surveys of 100 high school and vocational school students in Yogyakarta, along with in-depth interviews with students and guidance counselors.
The team also conducted digital content scraping on X (formerly Twitter) to map circulating narratives about klitih, enabling a holistic understanding that includes both psychological factors and the ways digital narratives shape youth identities.
Team member Khoirun Nisa’ Yulianti emphasized that the research aims to create counter-narratives that resonate closely with young people. She stressed the importance of fostering positive and reflective digital spaces rather than merely warning youths with threats or punishments.
“Educational content on social media is key to changing how Yogyakarta’s youth perceive violence not as a sign of bravery, but as something harmful,” she explained, highlighting the potential of platforms like TikTok and Reels, which are popular among teenagers.
Discussions with guidance counselors revealed that digital literacy and youth-friendly psychosocial approaches are essential. Through social media, the PKM-RSH Counter Klitih Team delivers digital counter-narratives in engaging forms such as posters, creative videos, and interactive campaigns targeted at students.
“Klitih is not just a criminal issue, it’s about identity and how we tell stories in the digital space. Through digital counter-narratives, we want to create safer and more constructive online environments,” added Yulianti.
In addition to social media dissemination, the team presented their content to interview participants to assess their responses after viewing it.
“We conducted comparative evaluations before and after viewing the content to measure how effective educational materials are in curbing violent tendencies through positive representation,” she said.
Based on the research findings, team member Satria Tegar Perdana expressed hope that the study will go beyond academic publication and inform policy development, particularly in child protection and digital violence prevention.
“We hope the findings will inspire real strategies, such as digital campaigns that can be implemented by communities and schools,” he noted.
The PKM-RSH Counter Klitih Team concluded that transforming narratives on social media can be an effective tool to stop the normalization of violence.
“This approach demonstrates that addressing klitih is not only about law enforcement but also about fostering social and digital innovation that tackles the root causes of youth behavior,” concluded Vannia Wardhani.
Author: Aldi Firmansyah
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Rajendra Arya
Photographs: PKM-RSH Counter Klitih Team and Antara