Lebak — Cell phone ownership among members of the Baduy Dalam community demonstrates that technological development does not necessarily lead to the loss of traditional values and cultural identity. A study by M. Iqbal Anugerah Berutu, Disa Putri Hapsari, and Alifia Khoirunnisa shows that cell phone use among some members of the Baduy Dalam community can be understood as a form of selective cultural adaptation. Technology is used to meet communication, economic, and information needs while remaining guided by customary values and pikukuh, the traditional principles that shape Baduy life.
The Baduy are widely known as one of Indonesia’s indigenous communities that continues to preserve traditions and a cultural value system passed down across generations. They live in Kanekes Village, Lebak Regency, Banten Province, and organize their lives around pikukuh adat, a set of customary rules governing various aspects of community life, including relationships with nature, social practices, and the limits of modern technology use.
The development of communication technology has introduced new dynamics into this traditional community. Increasing interaction with government officials, researchers, tourists, relatives outside the customary territory, and economic activities has created greater demand for faster communication. Previous studies have also documented the use of communication technologies by some members of the Baduy community for specific needs.
The phenomenon is particularly significant because the Baduy Dalam community is known for maintaining strong customary rules. The key issue is therefore not simply whether cell phones are used, but how the technology is accepted, utilized, and positioned within a way of life that continues to uphold traditional values.
M. Iqbal Anugerah Berutu of Perbanas Institute, Disa Putri Hapsari of Yogyakarta State University, and Alifia Khoirunnisa of Bina Sarana Informatika University examined this issue through a literature review. Their study focuses on the meaning of cell phone ownership, the factors driving its use, and the negotiation between technological development and customary rules within the Baduy Dalam community.
The researchers employed a literature review using a descriptive qualitative approach. Rather than collecting primary field data, they synthesized relevant scientific sources, including national and international journal articles, books, seminar proceedings, undergraduate and master’s theses, government documents, Central Statistics Agency publications, and other materials concerning the Baduy community, traditional customs, and communication technology.
The sources were gathered through scientific databases such as Google Scholar and Garuda using keywords related to Baduy Dalam, traditional customs, cell phones, communication technology, and cultural adaptation. The information was then grouped according to relevant themes, compared, and interpreted to identify patterns connecting technological needs with the preservation of cultural values.
The study finds that cell phone ownership among members of the Baduy Dalam community should not simply be interpreted as evidence that traditional values are being abandoned. Instead, it reflects a process of selective cultural adaptation. New technologies are not automatically accepted; they are filtered according to their benefits, necessity, and compatibility with customary values.
Cell phones are viewed primarily as functional communication tools rather than symbols of modernity. Their use tends to be limited to particular situations, especially when community members interact with people outside the customary territory. Technology therefore serves specific practical purposes without fully replacing the simple lifestyle maintained by the Baduy community.
Communication needs are one of the main factors encouraging cell phone use. Interaction with government representatives, researchers, tourists, and relatives living outside the customary territory creates a need for faster communication. However, the technology remains used selectively, particularly when specific needs arise or when community members are outside the Baduy Dalam area.
Economic activities are another important factor. Traditional Baduy products, including woven fabrics, woven bags, honey, and other handicrafts, have become increasingly recognized by the wider public. Communication technology can therefore help facilitate coordination with consumers, expand marketing networks, and distribute information about locally produced goods. The technology supports economic communication without replacing traditional production practices.
Access to information is also an important consideration. Cell phones provide opportunities to obtain information about education, health, and economic opportunities that may previously have been more difficult to access. However, information is not automatically accepted. The community continues to filter information according to the values embedded in pikukuh. Information considered beneficial may be used, while information perceived as inconsistent with cultural values tends not to be adopted.
The study also identifies a negotiation process between pikukuh and modernity. This negotiation does not necessarily represent a conflict between tradition and technology. Instead, the Baduy Dalam community can determine the appropriate space, time, and form of technology use according to its own value system. Technology is used when it provides tangible benefits but is not fully integrated into everyday life.
From the perspective of cultural adaptation, this process is closer to integration, meaning the acceptance of useful elements while maintaining traditional customs. From the perspective of diffusion of innovations, technology adoption is influenced not only by the perceived benefits of the technology but also by collective norms and the social legitimacy associated with traditional authority.
These findings demonstrate that modernity does not necessarily erase local culture. Indigenous communities can determine which technologies are acceptable and how those technologies should be used. In the case of the Baduy Dalam, cell phone use represents a culturally meaningful practice because decisions regarding technology remain connected to practical needs, customary norms, and mechanisms of social control.
The findings have important implications for government and society. Technological development in indigenous communities needs to respect local value systems. Digital transformation policies should therefore not focus solely on increasing access to technology but should also consider the preservation of cultural identity and customary rules.
The researchers also emphasize the need for broader approaches to understanding the relationship between indigenous communities and technology. Future studies can integrate perspectives from anthropology, communication, sociology, and digital transformation to develop a more comprehensive understanding of technological adaptation.
Because this study is based on a literature review, it does not directly capture the lived experiences of Baduy Dalam community members in the field. The researchers recommend future studies using field observations, in-depth interviews, or ethnographic approaches to better understand how the Baduy Dalam community interprets communication technology in everyday life.
Overall, the study by M. Iqbal Anugerah Berutu, Disa Putri Hapsari, and Alifia Khoirunnisa demonstrates that technology and tradition do not necessarily exist on opposing sides. Cell phone ownership among the Baduy Dalam can be understood as an example of how an indigenous community selectively responds to technological development. Technology is accepted when it provides practical benefits, while pikukuh remains the foundation for determining the limits of its use.
Authors
M. Iqbal Anugerah Berutu — Perbanas Institute.
Disa Putri Hapsari — Yogyakarta State University.
Alifia Khoirunnisa — Bina Sarana Informatika University.
Research Source
Article Title: Technological Adaptation Amidst Cultural Resilience: The Phenomenon of Cell Phone Ownership Among the Baduy Dalam Community
Journal: International Journal of Scientific Multidisciplinary Research (IJSMR), Vol. 4 No. 8, 2026, pp. 1713–1722.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.55927/ijsmr.v4i8.129
Journal Website: https://journalijsmr.my.id/index.php/ijsmr
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