Social Networking Application of International Students on Fighting Culture Shock During Pandemic

This study is describing the social networking application that has been used by international students both in Indonesia and USA, since the online culture increasingly implemented and becomes a familiar habit amidst the pandemic. It has accelerated to the point of becoming a ubiquitous part of the modern living recently. Living in a new culture enforce people to adjust their behavioral system for their own existence and harmonious life, therefore they will be experienced the culture shock in facing the new way of life due to COVID–19. The aim is to describe how the social networking application becomes a tool in helping people on fighting the culture shock in this pandemic era. In this regard the constructivist paradigm was carried out to describes the phenomenon on Instagram as social network application. The qualitative methods were used to collect data by virtual participant observation and online interviews via Zoom meetings. The results point out to communication through social networking apps becomes a new way to help them understand and keeping up with the new world after COVID-19, for it helped them also fight the culture shock. The people who is familiar with it becomes more ready to face the changes. The conclusion shows whether the pandemic is accelerating innovation in the telecommunication sector, creating new challenges for educators, communication industry, and professionals regarding the social networking applications used.