Credit cards are hard to get for young people, so "Paylater" services like Shopee PayLater, GoPay Paylater, and Akulaku are the default currency. The youth are fluent in "6-month installments" (Cicil). This has created a materialist boom: they buy the new iPhone, the $200 sneakers, or the drone on credit with the confidence that "I will have a job later."
Because of the prevalence of catfishing and online scams, a bizarre trend has emerged: Pap KTP (sending a photo of your National ID Card). Before meeting in person, youths demand a photo of the other person's ID card. While a serious privacy risk, it is seen as the ultimate currency of honesty. It shows you are real, not a ghost, and that you trust the other person not to commit fraud. The "Nongkrong" Economy: Coffee, Vape, and Rujak The ancient tradition of Nongkrong (hanging out with no particular goal) has been monetized and aestheticized. The corner warung (food stall) has been replaced by the "Hipster Coffee Shop" even in small towns. These shops serve as third spaces for youth. The criteria for a good coffee shop are: excellent Wi-Fi, a plug for a laptop, dim lighting for the "vibe," and the smell of clove cigarettes (kretek) mixed with vanilla vape juice. Credit cards are hard to get for young
They are savvy consumers who distrust big corporations but love their convenience. They are deeply nationalistic (a 2023 survey showed Gen Z has the highest level of pride in Indonesia), yet they speak fluent English slang. They are the Anak Muda (the young generation), and they are rewriting the rules of a country of 17,000 islands. They are no longer waiting for permission—from their parents, the government, or global culture. They are simply hitting "Post," "Order," or "Go Live," and the rest of the world is just trying to keep up. Before meeting in person, youths demand a photo