It is called "SMP Ngintip."
"They watch for the oppas," says Mr. Heru, a sociology teacher in Depok. "But they stay for the trauma. They are peeping into adult relationships—divorce, bankruptcy, murder. They understand 20% of it, but they mimic 100% of the attitude."
They aren't peeping through windows. They are peeping through screens. Walk into any Guardian or Watsons in a mall. Look closely at the counter selling Retinol or AHA/BHA tonics. Who is buying? Usually, it’s a 28-year-old graphic designer. But who is researching ?
"I know the difference between hyaluronic acid and niacinamide," Keysha says proudly. "My mom doesn't."
Because these children are looking up (at adults), not across (at peers), their expectations warp. If a 13-year-old watches a 24-year-old influencer buy a designer bag, the middle schooler feels poor. If they watch a dating vlog about "red flags," they become cynical about romance before they have even held hands.