Population Dynamics in Digital Communication Transformation: Kajang Community in Bulukumba Regency

Abstract

In the rapid digital transformation, the urgency of understanding the population dynamics of the Kajang community in Bulukumba Regency, South Sulawesi, has become increasingly important. Kajang is a unique example of a community that maintains its cultural traditions while interacting with modernity, highlighting the complexity between cultural values and technology adoption. This research aims to fill gaps in knowledge about how the population dynamics of the Kajang community interact with digital communication transformation, as well as how cultural values are maintained. This research used qualitative methods, such as the Nvivo 12 Plus analysis tool, to organize, analyze, and explore qualitative data from interviews, documentation, and observations. The findings of this research indicate that technology adoption patterns among the Kajang community are influenced by the balance between traditional values and modernity, with factors such as technology accessibility, cultural values, and the influence of the social environment playing an important role in determining adoption rates. Kajang Luar tends to adopt technology more quickly than Kajang Dalam, reflecting the complexity of cultural dynamics and the influence of the social environment on technology adoption patterns within the community. Despite adjustments to the use of technology, especially in dealing with educational needs and emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the Kajang community still maintains their commitment to traditional values by not using it openly within their customary area, which reflects a skeptical attitude towards the use of technology communication, which could disrupt the balance of nature or threaten their cultural heritage.