Bogor, Formosa News — The way government officials behave and communicate in digital spaces can influence how Generation Z views government legitimacy and public institutions, according to a 2026 study by Afmi Apriliani, Muhammad Husein Maruapey, Moh. Alvin Maulana, Nova Dwi Rahma, Selavina Indriani, M. Rifaldi Fauzy, Muhammad Wildan, and Tatia Meriska of Djuanda University, Bogor, Indonesia. Published in the International Journal of Applied Research and Sustainable Sciences (IJARSS), the study examines civil servant ethics on platforms such as TikTok and X and proposes stronger servant leadership and the everyday application of Pancasila values as ways to rebuild trust among Generation Z.
The study is particularly relevant as government communication increasingly takes place in digital public spaces. For younger citizens who rely heavily on social media for information and public discussion, the conduct of government officials online can become part of how they assess the credibility, responsiveness, and legitimacy of public institutions.
Government Ethics is no Longer Limited to the Office
Traditionally, administrative ethics was closely associated with rules, procedures, hierarchy, and internal bureaucratic standards. The researchers argue that the digital environment has expanded the meaning of public-sector ethics.
Today, statements, responses to criticism, and public interactions involving government officials can quickly reach large audiences through social media. Platforms such as TikTok and X have developed into spaces where citizens discuss government policies, question public officials, share information, and express their expectations.
The study describes this shift as an important change in the relationship between government and citizens. Ethical behavior is no longer judged only within government offices. It can also be observed directly by the public through digital platforms.
For the researchers from Djuanda University, this makes ethical conduct an important component of government legitimacy. Public officials are expected to demonstrate responsibility, transparency, integrity, and sensitivity to public concerns both offline and online.
Generation Z is Becoming an Active Digital Watchdog
Generation Z occupies a particularly important position in this changing environment. As a generation that has grown up with digital technology, its expectations toward government services are increasingly connected to speed, accessibility, transparency, and digital communication.
The study notes that when these expectations are not met, or when public controversies emerge, Generation Z can quickly organize around specific issues through digital networks. The researchers refer to this phenomenon as “digital ashabiyyah,” describing a form of fluid solidarity that develops through shared concerns, narratives, and social values in cyberspace.
Through platforms such as TikTok and X, young people can exchange information, discuss public policies, challenge official narratives, and participate in public oversight. This means digital participation can become an additional channel through which citizens interact with and monitor government institutions.
The researchers therefore see Generation Z not simply as an audience for government communication, but as an increasingly active participant in the digital public sphere.
Researchers Reviewed 48 Articles and Selected 19 Key Sources
The study uses a Narrative Literature Review, a method that allows researchers to compare and synthesize findings from existing academic publications.
The research team searched several academic databases, including Publish or Perish, Google Scholar, Scopus, ScienceDirect, Garuda, and Crossref. The search covered literature concerning public administration ethics, digital ethics, government legitimacy, public trust, Generation Z, digital governance, government communication, and public-sector ethics.
The initial search produced 48 articles. After screening and applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, the researchers selected 19 key references for the main analysis. The selected literature covered issues ranging from digital government and public trust to bureaucratic reform, anti-corruption education, and the political behavior of Generation Z.
The researchers then used qualitative content analysis and thematic analysis to identify recurring patterns. Five major themes emerged: digital ethical behavior among government officials, digital transparency and accountability, government legitimacy in digital public spaces, Generation Z's expectations of digital governance, and strategies for rebuilding public trust through digital ethics.
Social Media has Changed Government Communication
One of the study's central findings is that social media has transformed the way government behavior becomes visible to citizens.
A statement or action that might previously have been noticed only by a limited audience can now be shared, discussed, and evaluated by thousands of users. The researchers explain that digital platforms allow citizens to become independent producers of information and to influence public opinion without relying entirely on traditional media or formal administrative channels.
At the same time, the study highlights the role of algorithms in intensifying emotional responses. Content that generates strong reactions can attract greater engagement, potentially turning policy discussions into highly polarized debates. In such situations, official explanations may face difficulty gaining public acceptance when trust has already weakened.
The researchers consequently argue that government communication needs to become more responsive, transparent, and empathetic rather than relying primarily on reactive communication after controversies emerge.
Servant Leadership could Help Rebuild Trust
The researchers from Djuanda University propose servant leadership as one approach to addressing the ethical challenges of government in the digital era.
Servant leadership emphasizes empathy, open communication, morality, and a commitment to serving the public. The study suggests that this approach can be combined with formal political leadership so that government authority is accompanied by a stronger orientation toward public service.
Under this approach, transparency is not simply a matter of publishing administrative information. It becomes a practical commitment to placing public interests at the center of government decisions.
The study also emphasizes the importance of strengthening Pancasila as “living ethics.” The researchers argue that values such as honesty, social justice, and mutual cooperation should be practiced in everyday governance, including interactions in digital spaces.
As Afmi Apriliani and colleagues at Djuanda University explain through their analysis, restoring trust among Generation Z requires consistency between the ethical principles promoted by government and the behavior citizens actually observe.
Turning Digital Criticism into Constructive Participation
The findings have implications for government institutions, policymakers, public-sector leaders, and educators.
For government institutions, digital ethics can become part of civil servant training and public communication strategies. Officials need not only administrative knowledge but also the ability to communicate responsibly, respond to criticism, explain policies clearly, and interact constructively with citizens online.
For policymakers, the study points toward the importance of combining transparency with empathy and accountability. Digital communication should not be viewed only as a tool for disseminating government information. It can also become a channel for listening to citizens and identifying emerging public concerns.
For Generation Z, digital platforms provide opportunities to participate in public affairs through discussion, information sharing, and social oversight. When conducted responsibly, these activities can contribute to a healthier relationship between citizens and government.
The researchers ultimately suggest that digital criticism can become productive social capital when government institutions respond through ethical leadership, transparency, dialogue, and meaningful public engagement.
The study also acknowledges that its conclusions are based on conceptual and descriptive literature analysis rather than direct surveys or statistical measurements of Generation Z's trust. The authors recommend future quantitative or mixed-method research to measure more precisely how government digital communication affects trust among young citizens.
Author Profile
The article was written by Afmi Apriliani, Muhammad Husein Maruapey, Moh. Alvin Maulana, Nova Dwi Rahma, Selavina Indriani, M. Rifaldi Fauzy, Muhammad Wildan, and Tatia Meriska, all affiliated with Djuanda University, Bogor, Indonesia.
Their article focuses on public administration ethics, digital ethics, civil servant behavior, digital governance, government legitimacy, public trust, Generation Z, government communication, and public-sector leadership. The source article does not provide individual academic degrees for the authors, so no degrees are added here.
Research Source
Article Title: Ethics of Civil Servants in the Digital Realm and Restoring the Trust of Generation Z
Authors: Afmi Apriliani, Muhammad Husein Maruapey, Moh. Alvin Maulana, Nova Dwi Rahma, Selavina Indriani, M. Rifaldi Fauzy, Muhammad Wildan, and Tatia Meriska
Affiliation: Djuanda University, Bogor, Indonesia
Journal: International Journal of Applied Research and Sustainable Sciences (IJARSS)
Publication Year: 2026
Volume: 4, No. 6
Pages: 607–618
DOI: https://doi.org/10.59890/ijarss.v4i6.31
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