MAKNA WASKITA JAWI DALAM BELAJAR SEJARAH JAWA MELALUI FACEBOOK: STUDI KUALITATIF DALAM PERSPEKTIF ILMU KOMUNIKASI

The shift of Javanese history learning from face-to-face settings to social media has created a new way for people to encounter, discuss, and interpret the past. This study aims to explain how members of the Waskita Jawi Community understand Javanese history learning through Facebook and to describe the role of interaction among members in shaping historical meaning. This study employed a descriptive qualitative approach using Symbolic Interactionism as its analytical perspective. The primary data were obtained through an online in- depth interview with the leader of the Waskita Jawi Community on April 19, 2026. The data were supported by observations of the community’s Facebook activities and digital documentation consisting of posts, comments, and shared historical materials. The data were analyzed using the interactive model of Miles, Huberman, and Saldaña through data condensation, data display, and conclusion drawing. The findings show that Facebook broadens access to historical learning through videos, quotations, and short educational materials, particularly for members who are unable to attend offline activities. Historical understanding is not formed solely through the content received but through an interpretive process influenced by each member’s prior knowledge and personal experience. Interactions through comments, discussions, information exchange, and differences of opinion make historical meaning dynamic and diverse. Such interactions may enrich members’ understanding; however, they may also reinforce inaccurate information when discussions are not supported by reliable sources and adequate verification. This study concludes that the Waskita Jawi Community functions as an open and participatory space for learning history, although the depth of understanding remains dependent on members’ interpretive abilities, the quality of information, and the management of discussions. The findings should be understood within the limitation that the primary data mainly represent the perspective of the community leader. Keywords: Facebook, historical meaning, Javanese history learning, Symbolic Interactionism, Waskita Jawi Community.