Dinamika Komunikasi Interpersonal Lintas Generasi Dalam Komunikasi Virtual Antara Orang Tua Dan Anak

The rapid development of digital technology has transformed the way families communicate, particularly among boarding students who rely on virtual interaction to maintain emotional closeness with their parents. This study aims to examine the role of cross-generational interpersonal communication in virtual interactions between students living in boarding houses and their parents. Using a qualitative approach, the research involved ten Communication Science students at Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta who routinely communicated with their parents via WhatsApp. The findings reveal five primary challenges in virtual communication: technical constraints, differences in communication styles, temporal misalignment, digital literacy gaps, and emotional barriers resulting from the absence of nonverbal cues. Despite these challenges, the students demonstrated adaptive strategies such as adjusting their communication style, coordinating communication schedules, assisting parents with digital tools, and utilizing video calls to clarify emotional contexts. Overall, the study highlights that effective cross-generational virtual communication is shaped not only by technological capability but also by the ability of both parties to adapt, build empathy, and negotiate meaning within digital interactions.