Indonesia
Amid the glitter of modernity and rapid technological advancement, Indonesia faces a troubling paradox. Like a once-vibrant painting slowly losing its color, the nation is witnessing an erosion of civility among its younger generation. This phenomenon is not a minor social inconvenience; it reflects a deeper shift in the fundamental values that have long defined Indonesian society.
When discussing a crisis of manners, the issue extends far beyond the loss of politeness. It cuts to the core of human values that have traditionally been a source of national pride. The culture of 3S Salam (greeting), Senyum (smile), and Sapa (salute) once emblematic of Indonesian warmth and hospitality, now seems increasingly relegated to nostalgia.
More alarming is the rise of verbal and physical violence among students. Teachers, who should be respected as architects of character formation, have become targets of aggression. In several reported cases, students have collectively assaulted their own teachers acts that would once have been unimaginable within Indonesia’s educational culture.
The disappearance of the “four magic words” please, excuse me, sorry, and thank you from the everyday vocabulary of young people is not a trivial matter. It signals the erosion of basic social etiquette that should underpin interpersonal relations. These simple expressions embody recognition of human dignity.
Equally concerning is the growing display of arrogance among younger individuals toward their elders. Social hierarchies once upheld as expressions of respect now appear to be losing significance. At the same time, older generations have not always provided exemplary conduct, perpetuating a cycle of moral decline.
Recent research indicates that this crisis of civility is not merely an individual failing but a manifestation of broader structural change. As Hermawati (2022) observes, Indonesia’s longstanding culture of politeness and hospitality has experienced notable deterioration in recent years.
Disturbingly, the crisis extends beyond intergenerational tensions to peer interactions. Incidents of group violence among students illustrate how basic humanitarian values are being supplanted by an increasingly normalized culture of aggression.
According to Ferihana and Rahmatullah (2023), the diminishing sense of mutual respect and tolerance stands as a primary indicator of this moral downturn. Adab the ethical framework governing behavior should serve as foundational knowledge for social conduct, yet it appears alien to many young people today.
Within the education sector, this reality presents a significant dilemma. Teachers, who should focus on imparting knowledge, now find themselves compelled to instill fundamental values that ideally should have been cultivated within the family environment.
Misniaty (2020) underscores that adab functions as a moral safeguard against inappropriate behavior. In practice, however, many young individuals seem to have lost this ethical shield, leaving them vulnerable to negative influences.
The crisis is also evident in everyday behaviors such as early-age smoking, entrenched cheating practices and persistent student brawls. These patterns suggest that moral degradation has permeated multiple dimensions of youth life.
Ferdinand et al. (2019) stress that ethics represent a manifestation of respect for others’ existence. Yet many young people display indifference toward prevailing social norms.
AS Sidiq (2017) argues that ethics reflect personal character. When ethical standards erode, it signals a fundamental flaw in character formation.
The situation is compounded by the pervasive influence of social media and digital technology, which do not always produce positive outcomes. Many young individuals adopt values from the virtual sphere that may conflict with local cultural norms.
Ismail and Hamid (2020) highlight how the role of teachers as shapers of character is increasingly under threat. Cases of violence against educators demonstrate the alarming depth of the civility crisis.
Ultimately, the decline of manners among the younger generation is not an inevitable fate. It is a collective challenge requiring serious commitment from all sectors of society. The nation’s future will depend largely on how effectively this moral crisis is addressed today.
Author: Imam Alfafan Yakub
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