Volume V: Economy, Politics, and Environmental Governance

The Anatomy of Digital Waste: A Qualitative Study of Contemporary Consumer Culture from an Islamic Economic Perspective

  • Molly Mustikasari University of Muhammadiyah, Bandung, Indonesia
  • Nurfaedah Institute of Islamic Religion, Garut, Indonesia

Keywords

Contemporary consumeris; excessive behaviour; fragile internalization; flexing; impulsive buying.

Abstract

This study aims to provide a structural (anatomical) analysis of the conceptualisation of excessive behaviour (israf) mediated by modern technological architecture in the digital age. Under the sway of algorithmic capitalism, contemporary consumerist phenomena—such as the manipulation of live-shopping features, personalised advertising, and the ease of instant credit (pay-later schemes)—have eroded the rationality of consumption amongst Muslim communities. This qualitative study employs a literature review (library research) using a descriptive-analytical approach. The results of this literature review have successfully identified three layers of the anatomy of digital israf. Firstly, the structural-technological layer, in which digital platforms are deliberately designed to create a false sense of urgency (the scarcity effect) in order to trigger impulsive purchases. Secondly, the sociological layer, in which the digital space amplifies the culture of showing off (flexing) and social anxiety (FOMO), which radically reverses the scale of Sharia consumption priorities by elevating the status of desires (tahsiniyat) as if they were primary needs (dharuriyat). Thirdly, the spiritual-cognitive layer, which reveals a disconnect between normative religious understanding regarding the prohibition of israf and actual behaviour, due to the fragile internalisation of the concept of simplicity (qana’ah) in cyberspace. This study concludes that digital israf is a pathology of the modern economy that requires a rethinking of the financial literacy paradigm. The theoretical implications of this study offer a mitigation model in the form of strengthening cyber- spiritual resilience as a mechanism for regulating the consumption of contemporary Muslims.

References

  1. Abdurrahman, D. (2005). ISRAF DAN TABDZIR: KONSEPSI ETIKA DAN PERSPEKTIF MATERIALISME-KONSUMERISME. Mimbar, XXI(1).
  2. Adi, K., Prades Arianto Silondae, Achmad Abubakar, Halimah Basri, & Muh. Azka Fazakah Rifah. (2023). Perilaku Hedonis dalam al-Qur’an Studi atas Term al-Israf Q.S al-A’raf ayat 31. AL-MUTSLA, 5(2), 425–437. https://doi.org/10.46870/jstain.v5i2.755
  3. Afrina, D. (2018). RASIONALITAS MUSLIM TERHADAP PERILAKU ISRAF DALAM KONSUMSI PERSPEKTIF EKONOMI ISLAM. EkBis: Jurnal Ekonomi Dan Bisnis, 2(1), 23–38. https://doi.org/10.14421/EkBis.2018.2.1.1088
  4. Arti kata kognitif—Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia (KBBI) Online. (n.d.). Retrieved June 30, 2026, from https://kbbi.web.id/kognitif
  5. Astuti, N. (2026). ANALISIS FENOMENA FOMO DAN PINJAMAN ONLINE GENERASI Z BERDASARKAN PERSPEKTIF SILA KEADILAN SOSIAL. 2(1).
  6. Chairunnisak, S., Ludhfi, S., Kardiati, D., Akmal, F., Isma, Y., KN, J., & Fadhillah, S. (2025). Flexing sebagai Strategi Representasi Diri di Media Sosial: Studi Fenomenologis pada Mahasiswa Ilmu Komunikasi Universitas Malikussaleh. Jurnal Ilmiah Teknik Informatika Dan Komunikasi, 5, 177–185. https://doi.org/10.55606/juitik.v5i1.1189
  7. Clausen, S., Marx, J., Mirbabaie, M., & Stieglitz, S. (2022). From Dark Patterns to Digital Sludging—Mapping the Ethical Debate on Controversial Persuasive System Design.
  8. Faiza, N., Abdullah, M. N. A., & Mujayapura, M. R. R. (2025). Budaya Konsumtif di Era Digital: Strategi Kapitalisme dalam Menciptakan Kebutuhan Semu. Titian: Jurnal Ilmu Humaniora, 9(1), 13–26. https://doi.org/10.22437/titian.v9i1.42847
  9. Febiani, S., Dewi Pergiwati Wijaya, & Sharen Sakita. (2026). Flexing di Media Sosial: Antara Gaya Hidup dan Tekanan Sosial pada Mahasiswa Sosiologi Universitas Sriwijaya. RISOMA : Jurnal Riset Sosial Humaniora dan Pendidikan, 4(3), 130–145. https://doi.org/10.62383/risoma.v4i3.1665
  10. Gayatri, A., Fahamsyah, E., & Setyawan, F. (2026). Pertanggungjawaban Hukum Praktik Dark Pattern dalam Transaksi Elektronik Berdasarkan Perlindungan Konsumen Indonesia. QISTINA: Jurnal Multidisiplin Indonesia, 5, 809–819. https://doi.org/10.57235/qistina.v5i1.8563
  11. Haironi, N., Susanti, E., & Pratiwi, R. W. (2026). TEORI BELAJAR KOGNITIF. Jurnal Pendidikan Sosial Dan Humaniora, 5(1), 994–1001.
  12. Hanna, N. S. S., Septiana, M., Wahyuningtyas, N., Kavin, R., Utami, R. A., & Inggirita, N. T. (2025). FENOMENA SHOPAHOLIC PADA KALANGAN GEN-Z: CERMINAN BUDAYA HEDONISME DAN KONSUMERISME. Triwikrama: Jurnal Ilmu Sosial, 11(8), 371–380.
  13. Hartono, I. P., Herdiana, H. D., & Aisyah, L. (2024). Perkembangan Teknologi Modern Menjadi Awal Sifat Budaya Konsumtif Mahasiswa Sosiologi Angkatan 2022 di Universitas Jember. Innovative: Journal Of Social Science Research, 4(3), 6248–6259. https://doi.org/10.31004/innovative.v4i3.11060
  14. Kasuda, R., & Mahendra, R. (2025). Fenomena Flexing di Media Sosial. Blantika: Multidisciplinary Journal, 3(1), 83–89. https://doi.org/10.57096/blantika.v3i1.266
  15. Khan, M. A. (2020). Theory of Consumer Behavior: An Islamic Perspective.
  16. Khayati, N., Apriliyanti, D., Sudiana, V. N., Setiawan, A., & Pramono, D. (2022). FENOMENA FLEXING DI MEDIA SOSIAL SEBAGAI AJANG PENGAKUAN KELAS SOSIAL DENGAN KAJIAN TEORI FUNGSIONALISME STRUKTURAL | Khayati | Jurnal Sosialisasi: Jurnal Hasil Pemikiran, Penelitian dan Pengembangan Keilmuan Sosiologi Pendidikan. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.26858/sosialisasi.v1i2.32543
  17. Kurnianingsih, N., Fadillah, A., & Puspitaningsih, H. (2025). Pembentukan Karakter Spiritual melalui Pendekatan Tazkiyatun Nafs dalam Kurikulum Pendidikan Agama Islam. Masagi: Jurnal Pendidikan Karakter, 2, 200–215. https://doi.org/10.29313/masagi.v2i2.7851
  18. Luthfiah Al Asbin Ulyani, Nurhayati, & Yenni Samri Juliati Nasution. (2025). Konsep Israf dan Keseimbangan Konsumsi dalam QS. Al-A’raf Ayat 31: Tinjauan Tafsir dan Ekonomi Islam. AL-MIKRAJ Jurnal Studi Islam dan Humaniora (E-ISSN 2745-4584), 6(1), 1232–1243. https://doi.org/10.37680/almikraj.v6i1.8551
  19. Makky, N. L. A. Q. A., & Yazid, M. (2025). The Concept Of Israf And Tabdzir: A Guide To Wise Consumption In Islam. Maro: Jurnal Ekonomi Syariah Dan Bisnis, 8(2), 270–279. https://doi.org/10.31949/maro.v8i2.13421
  20. Paharizal, R. (2024). Dromologi: Jebakan Teknologi Terhadap Budaya Konsumerisme dan Peningkatan Volume Sampah di Perkotaan. POPULIKA, 12(1), 41–61. https://doi.org/10.37631/populika.v12i1.1223
  21. Poernama, S., Achdiani, Y., & Abdullah, M. (2025). Pinjaman Online, Konsumerisme, dan Krisis Finansial Generasi Z. SENTRI: Jurnal Riset Ilmiah, 4, 977–985. https://doi.org/10.55681/sentri.v4i8.4266
  22. Pohan, S., Munawwarah, P., & Sinuraya, J. (2023). Fenomen Flexing di Media Sosial dalam Menaikkan Popularitas Diri sebagai Gaya Hidup. JKOMDIS : Jurnal Ilmu Komunikasi Dan Media Sosial, 3, 490–493. https://doi.org/10.47233/jkomdis.v3i2.851
  23. Rojiati, U., & Afifah, N. (2024). Analisis Fenomena Flexing: Keterkaitan Antara Gaya Hidup dan Popularitas. Komsospol, 4(1), 38–47. https://doi.org/10.47637/komsospol.v4i1.1220
  24. S. Manhatus Sania. (2026). Dilema Eksistensi di Era Digital: Analisis Fenomena Flexing di Media Sosial dalam Perspektif Psikologi Sosial dan Islam. Jurnal Budi Pekerti Agama Islam, 4(2), 116–129. https://doi.org/10.61132/jbpai.v4i2.2006
  25. Saragih, J. K., Hasiholan, K. E., Melkhanda, R., Sununianti, V. V., Istiqomah, & Kurniawan, D. A. (2026). Fatamorgana Kemewahan di Ruang Digital: Analisis Budaya Flexing sebagai Hilangnya Nilai Pakai dalam Masyarakat Konsumsi. Al-Zayn : Jurnal Ilmu Sosial & Hukum, 4(3), 4861–4867. https://doi.org/10.61104/alz.v4i3.6056
  26. Setiadi, H., Sukmana, O., & Wahyudi, W. (2024). Exposure to Technology and Social Media: A Study of Generation Z’s Consumerist Culture in South Jakarta. Asian Journal of Engineering, Social and Health, 3(5), 1055–1062. https://doi.org/10.46799/ajesh.v3i5.318
  27. Ulfa, L. (2025). ANALISIS FLEXING DI MASA KINI MENURUT HADIS. 3(11). https://doi.org/10.62281
  28. Yakin, A. A., & Pangesti, Q. A. (2026). DEKADENSI MORAL DAN RESILIENSI SPIRITUAL: AKTUALISASI KONSEP TAZKIYATUN NAFS DI TENGAH FENOMENA LIVING TOGETHER DI YOGYAKARTA. Archetype : Jurnal Ilmiah Psikologi dan Terapan, 8(1), 19–31. https://doi.org/10.30651/archetype.v8i1.29439
  29. Yusgiantara, A. (2024). MENGHINDARI PERILAKU BERLEBIHAN: MEMBUMIKAN GAYA HIDUP ISLAMI DALAM MENGATASI ISRAF, TABDZIR, DAN BAKHIL. 2(10).
  30. Zac, A., Huang, Y.-C., Von Moltke, A., Decker, C., & Ezrachi, A. (2025). Dark patterns and consumer vulnerability. Behavioural Public Policy, 1–50. https://doi.org/10.1017/bpp.2024.49
Scroll to Top