Pelecehan Verbal di Ruang Digital sebagai Bentuk Kekerasan Seksual Nonfisik: Tinjauan Yuridis Berdasarkan Undang-Undang Nomor 12 Tahun 2022 tentang Tindak Pidana Kekerasan Seksual dan Etika Akademik

Abstract

The rapid development of digital technology has opened new spaces for communication that are also prone to sexual harassment, particularly verbal harassment in digital spaces. This research aims to: (1) identify forms of verbal sexual harassment experienced or witnessed by students of the Faculty of Law, Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES); (2) analyze students’ understanding of the legal consequences of verbal digital harassment under Law Number 12 of 2022 on Sexual Violence Crimes (UU TPKS); and (3) examine the psychological and academic impacts of verbal digital harassment on students. This study employed a quantitative-descriptive approach using a survey method with questionnaires distributed to 22 active students of the Faculty of Law UNNES. The results show that 59.1% of respondents frequently encountered sexist jokes, 50% frequently experienced appearance-based mockery, and TikTok was the most common platform (50%). Regarding legal awareness, 90.9% knew about UU TPKS and recognized sexist jokes as criminal offenses. However, 36.4% did not know how to report harassment. In terms of psychological impact, 68% experienced anxiety when using social media, and 81.8% reported that digital harassment affected their concentration and academic motivation. These findings underscore the urgency of strengthening legal awareness, reporting mechanisms, and gender-sensitive digital ethics education in the academic environment.