Dampak Media Sosial Telegram Terhadap Terjadinya Friend With Benefit (FWB) Pada Mahasiswa FKIP Universitas Mataram

Abstract

Penelitian ini bertujuan menganalisis dampak penggunaan media sosial Telegram terhadap terjadinya relasi Friend with Benefit (FWB) pada mahasiswa FKIP Universitas Mataram. Fenomena ini penting dikaji karena perkembangan media sosial telah mengubah pola interaksi interpersonal mahasiswa melalui ruang komunikasi digital yang memungkinkan anonimitas, privasi, dan minimnya kontrol sosial, sehingga membuka peluang terbentuknya relasi intim tanpa komitmen. Meskipun penelitian terdahulu telah membahas FWB dari perspektif komunikasi interpersonal, makna relasi, dan Teori Pertukaran Sosial, kajian yang secara khusus mengulas peran fitur-fitur Telegram, seperti anonimitas akun, Secret Chat, grup privat, Bot Leomatch, dan kemudahan berbagi media terhadap terjadinya relasi FWB masih terbatas. Penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif dengan metode studi kasus. Data diperoleh melalui observasi, wawancara semi-terstruktur, dan dokumentasi terhadap enam mahasiswa FKIP Universitas Mataram yang pernah atau sedang menjalani relasi FWB melalui Telegram, serta enam informan pendukung. Analisis data dilakukan menggunakan model Miles dan Huberman melalui reduksi data, penyajian data, dan penarikan kesimpulan, sedangkan keabsahan data diuji melalui triangulasi sumber, teknik, dan waktu. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa fitur anonimitas, Secret Chat, komunitas privat, Bot Leomatch, serta kemudahan berbagi media memberikan dampak terhadap terjadinya relasi Friend with Benefit (FWB). Fitur-fitur tersebut mempermudah keterbukaan diri, meningkatkan rasa aman dalam berkomunikasi, mempercepat kedekatan emosional secara digital, serta memfasilitasi negosiasi relasi tanpa komitmen. Ditinjau melalui Teori Pertukaran Sosial George C. Homans, fitur-fitur tersebut menurunkan persepsi risiko sosial sekaligus meningkatkan reward berupa privasi, kenyamanan, dan kemudahan membangun relasi. Temuan ini memberikan kontribusi pada pengembangan kajian komunikasi digital dengan menjelaskan bagaimana karakteristik platform Telegram memengaruhi dinamika relasi interpersonal di kalangan mahasiswa. Penelitian ini juga mengimplikasikan pentingnya penguatan literasi digital, edukasi mengenai relasi yang sehat, serta perhatian institusi pendidikan terhadap risiko interaksi anonim di media sosial.

The Impact of the Telegram Social Media Platform on the Occurrence of Friends with Benefits (FWB) Relationships Among FKIP Students at the University of Mataram

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the impact of Telegram social media use on the occurrence of Friends with Benefits (FWB) relationships among students of the Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, University of Mataram. This phenomenon is important to examine because the rapid development of social media has transformed students' interpersonal communication patterns through digital communication spaces that provide anonymity, privacy, and minimal social control, thereby creating opportunities for the formation of intimate relationships without commitment. Although previous studies have examined FWB from the perspectives of interpersonal communication, relationship dynamics, and Social Exchange Theory, research specifically discussing the role of Telegram features, such as account anonymity, Secret Chat, private groups, the Leomatch Bot, and media-sharing facilities in facilitating the occurrence of FWB relationships remains limited. This study employed a qualitative approach using a case study method. Data were collected through participant observation, semi-structured interviews, and documentation involving six students from the Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, University of Mataram, who had experienced or were currently involved in FWB relationships through Telegram, as well as six supporting informants. Data were analyzed using the Miles and Huberman interactive model, which consisted of data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing. The trustworthiness of the data was ensured through source, technique, and time triangulation. The findings indicate that Telegram features, including account anonymity, Secret Chat, private communities, the Leomatch Bot, and media-sharing facilities, contribute to the occurrence of Friends with Benefits (FWB) relationships. These features facilitate self-disclosure, enhance users' sense of security in communication, accelerate the development of emotional intimacy in digital interactions, and support the negotiation of non-committed relationships. From the perspective of George C. Homans' Social Exchange Theory, these features reduce users' perceptions of social risks while increasing the perceived rewards in the form of privacy, comfort, and ease of establishing interpersonal relationships. These findings contribute to the development of digital communication studies by explaining how the characteristics of the Telegram platform influence the dynamics of interpersonal relationships among university students. The study also highlights the importance of strengthening digital literacy, promoting education on healthy relationships, and increasing educational institutions' awareness of the risks associated with anonymous interactions on social media.