The Living Room Altar: Domestic Geographies, Parental Hegemony, and the Spontaneous Media Consumption of Digital Natives

Dyah Noor Intan; Maryaningsih Maryaningsih; Churin  ‘In; Manual  Selvaraj Bexci; Sopia  Agnesta

doi:10.58344/jws.v5i8.1706

Authors

Dyah Noor Intan Universitas Dehasen Bengkulu
Maryaningsih Maryaningsih Universitas Dehasen Bengkulu
Churin ‘In Universitas Dehasen Bengkulu
Manual Selvaraj Bexci Lincoln University College, Malaysia
Sopia Agnesta Universitas Dehasen Bengkulu

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.58344/jws.v5i8.1706

Keywords:

digital native paradox, domestic geography, spontaneous viewers, temporal vulnerability, p3sps regulation

Abstract

Global audience studies often portray Generation Z as autonomous digital natives who have shifted toward private digital platforms. However, this study identifies a “Digital Native Paradox” in a developing regional context, where adolescents’ digital agency remains constrained by domestic structures. This study aimed to map conventional broadcast media consumption, particularly television and radio, among high school students in Bengkulu City and to assess the implementation of the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission’s P3SPS regulations. Using a quantitative descriptive design with a macro-survey approach, data were collected from 277 adolescents aged 14–18 years across nine public and private senior high schools and validated through field-method triangulation. The findings show that conventional broadcasting remains embedded in adolescents’ daily routines. Approximately 55% of respondents relied on free-to-air antennas, while 67% accessed television in shared living rooms, reinforcing parental influence over viewing choices and positioning adolescents largely as spontaneous or passive viewers of national and local television networks. In contrast, adolescents demonstrated greater autonomy in radio consumption, particularly as selective listeners of music programs during morning commuting hours (07:00–10:00 WIB). Television viewing was concentrated between 19:00 and 21:00 WIB, with some respondents reporting exposure of up to 7–8 hours daily. Moreover, 57% watched television without parental supervision, indicating limited household-level protection from adult-classified content. These findings suggest that P3SPS regulations alone are insufficient and should be complemented by stronger family-based media governance to protect adolescents within domestic environments.

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