Konstruksi Naratif “Laki-Laki Problematis” dalam Hubungan Romantis

(Studi Netnografi pada Tren Man of the Year di TikTok)

Abstract

Tarra Khansa Savina, 210510220075, Communication Management Study Program, Faculty of Communication Sciences, Padjadjaran University. This research is titled “Narrative Construction of ‘Problematic Men’ in Romantic Relationships (A Netnographic Study of the ‘Man of the Year’ Trend on TikTok)” with Dr. Ira Mirawati, M.Si as the Primary Supervisor and Detta Rahmawan, S.I.Kom., MA. as the Co-Supervisor. This research aims to analyze the process of narrative construction regarding the figure of “problematic men” in romantic relationships through the Man of the Year trend on the social media platform TikTok. The study focuses on the transformation process of private personal experiences into public consumption, as well as the variations in collective audience responses to these narratives. This research employs a qualitative approach with a netnographic method to examine digital interactions and the storytelling practices of users. Data collection was conducted through participant observation of 49 primary video contents, alongside an in-depth analysis of comment sections and reaction videos. The results indicate that the Man of the Year trend functions as a digital theater facilitating self-disclosure through dramatic digital storytelling strategies. The researcher identified three major themes of male behavior constructed as problematic figures: Relational Manipulation, Relational Dominance, and Emotional Neglect. TikTok's algorithmic infrastructure acts as a lubricant that accelerates instantaneous social penetration, while the comment features and reaction videos create a safe space and "Digital Sisterhood" among women. Overall, this trend serves as a collective defense mechanism for women to redefine the standards of an ideal partner by establishing problematic behavior as a moral boundary in modern relationship dynamics.