TRANSFORMASI PINJAMAN NONFORMAL BERBASIS WHATSAPP DALAM PERSPEKTIF MODAL SOSIAL MASYARAKAT DESA SUKOREJO

TRANSFORMATION OF WHATSAPP-BASED NON-FORMAL LOANS FROM THE SOCIAL CAPITAL PERSPECTIVE OF THE SUKOREJO VILLAGE COMMUNITY

Abstract

The phenomenon of limited access to formal financial institutions in rural communities has driven the development of informal lending practices, which are now undergoing a digital transformation through the WhatsApp application. This study aims to analyze the transformation of WhatsApp-based informal lending mechanisms and its implications for the sustainability of community businesses in Sukorejo Village. The method used was qualitative with a descriptive approach through observation, interviews, and documentation. The results indicate that informal lending practices have transformed from conventional systems to digital ones that are faster, more flexible, and more efficient. The main driving factors include ease of access, speed of disbursement, urgent economic needs, and low financial literacy. Furthermore, this practice is influenced by social capital in the form of trust, social closeness, and interpersonal networks. The resulting impact is dualistic, providing short-term benefits in access to capital but potentially incurring long-term risks such as high interest rates and debt dependence. Thus, this digital transformation has not fully improved community welfare.