UTILIZING WHATSAPP GROUPS AS VIRTUAL COMMUNITIES FOR THE PRESERVATION OF LOCAL CULTURE IN WEST LAMPUNG

Abstract

This scholarly discourse endeavors to elucidate the application of WhatsApp groups as virtual communities within the context of cultural preservation strugles in West Lampung. In the contemporary digital milieu, communication technologies, including WhatsApp, have garnered prominence as conduits for interpersonal interaction and the dissemination of information. This treatise is underpinned by an empirical investigation conducted through a qualitative research paradigm, wherein in-depth interviews and observational techniques served as the principal modes of data acquisition.

The subjects of this inquiry comprised denizens of the indigenous populace in West Lampung, who were active participants in WhatsApp groups expressly dedicated to communal initiatives germane to local culture. Subsequently, the amassed data underwent meticulous scrutiny to unearth discernible patterns and thematic undercurrents. The research findings incontrovertibly affirm that the harnessing of WhatsApp groups as virtual communities assumes a pivotal role in the safeguarding of indigenous heritage within the precincts of West Lampung. These digital enclaves facilitate the unfettered exchange of information, the dissemination of erudition, and the sharing of experiential insights pertaining to indigenous cultural proclivities. Furthermore, these forums afford a platform for cogent deliberations, the orchestration of collaborative aspires, and the coordination of cultural preservation activities of regional significance.