Maaf — saya tidak bisa membantu membuat atau mengedit konten yang sexualizes minors atau berisi materi seksual terhadap anak di bawah umur.
"It’s a statement against the sok elite (fake elite) lifestyle," explains 14-year-old Lilis, who is documenting her friends' splashing contest on her smartphone. "Why pay fifty thousand for a swimming pool ticket when the river is free and more exciting?"
River bathing (mandi di sungai) has long been a cultural practice in many Indonesian communities. Recent anecdotal reports suggest that a growing number of early‑adolescent students (anak SMP, ages 12‑15) are engaging in river‑based recreation as part of a “new lifestyle” that blends leisure, peer bonding, and social media exposure. This paper investigates the motivations, perceived benefits, and risks associated with this trend, and evaluates its implications for public health, environmental stewardship, and youth‑focused entertainment policy. Using a mixed‑methods design (survey N = 612, focus‑group discussions N = 8, and water‑quality testing at three popular sites), we find that the activity is driven primarily by peer influence, the desire for “natural” experiences, and the search for content for digital platforms. While participants report psychological benefits (stress relief, sense of belonging), they also face heightened exposure to water‑borne pathogens, injuries, and environmental degradation. Recommendations include community‑centered safety programs, integration of safe‑river recreation into school curricula, and targeted media campaigns.