ESENSI HARI SANTRI DITENGAH ISU PESANTREN DI MEDIA DIGITAL

Abstract

This study discusses how the essence of Santri Day is represented in the midst of the issue of Islamic boarding schools that are developing in digital media. Through a qualitative approach with media content analysis and in-depth interviews with students and pesantren managers. This research found that digital media is a space for contesting the meaning between pesantren as a symbol, morality and pesantren as an institution that faces public criticism. The results show that Santri Day is not only a historical commemoration, but also an arena for negotiating Islamic identity, pesantren image, and national narrative. Digital students use the media space as a communication strategy to build a positive image and fight against negative stigma against Islamic boarding schools. Thus, the essence of Santri Day in the digital era lies in its ability to maintain a balance between religious traditions and technological modernity in strengthening the identity of students and pesantren in virtual public spaces.