Gambaran Kehidupan Sosial Pecandu Game Online Kompetitif Pada Kalangan Remaja Di Gampong Meunasah Bakthu Kecamatan Suka Makmur Kabupaten Aceh Besar

Abstract

The increasing prevalence of competitive online game addiction among adolescents has become a growing social concern due to its potential to influence interpersonal relationships, family cohesion, and community engagement. This study aims to examine the social lives of adolescents experiencing competitive online game addiction in Meunasah Bakthu Village, Sukamakmur District, Aceh Besar Regency, with particular attention to the ways excessive gaming behavior shapes their interactions within the family and broader community. A descriptive qualitative approach was employed to obtain an in-depth understanding of the phenomenon through the lived experiences of the participants. Data were collected using in-depth interviews, participant observation, and documentation involving five adolescents identified as competitive online game addicts, three village officials, and two parents who closely observed their children's gaming activities. The data were analyzed through an interactive process of data collection, reduction, presentation, and conclusion drawing to identify recurring patterns and emerging themes. The findings demonstrate that excessive involvement in competitive online games significantly reduces adolescents' direct social interaction with family members and the surrounding community, increases dependence on virtual communication, decreases participation in social and religious activities, and contributes to declining personal responsibility, weakened academic motivation, and deteriorating emotional relationships with parents. These findings highlight that online game addiction extends beyond excessive digital engagement by reshaping adolescents' social behavior and community participation. The study contributes to the growing discourse on digital behavior by providing contextual evidence from rural Indonesia and emphasizes the importance of collaborative interventions involving families, educational institutions, communities, and local authorities to promote balanced technology use and strengthen adolescents' social well-being.