Fenomena Kecurangan Akademik Joki Tugas melalui Media Sosial Telegram di Kalangan Generasi Z

Abstract

Social media, initially designed as a platform for self-development, has increasingly become a space for misuse—one of which is the widespread practice of academic ghostwriting (joki tugas) among Generation Z, particularly on the Telegram platform. This study aims to explore the social deviance associated with academic ghostwriting using a descriptive qualitative approach. Data were collected through observation, in-depth interviews, and documentation involving twelve informants—seven service providers and five service users—selected through snowball sampling. The findings reveal that this phenomenon reflects both technological misuse and a deviation from academic values. Academic ghostwriting is chosen as a shortcut to fulfill academic responsibilities due to the mutually beneficial exchange between providers and users. This practice also highlights the commodification of knowledge and the infiltration of capitalism into the education system, where personal branding and the image of intelligence are exploited to gain trust in illegal services. Ultimately, this undermines educational integrity and creates a vicious cycle that erodes scientific values and academic morality.