What Is Pansos on Social Media?
Gusti Ayu Tita P
24 September 2026
Pansos is an Indonesian slang term that comes from panjat sosial, which can be translated as social climbing. The term is commonly used to describe behavior where someone tries to gain attention, recognition, or popularity through connections with people who are already well known. This behavior can often be seen on social media through photos, videos, comments, or public interactions. The person may highlight their connection with a popular figure to become more noticeable to a wider audience.
Pansos is closely related to the way people build their image online. Social media makes it easy for users to share their activities and receive immediate responses from others. However, not every interaction with a popular person is pansos. The purpose, context, and pattern of the interaction should be considered before describing it as social climbing.
PANSOS OFTEN INVOLVES POPULAR PEOPLE
One common feature of pansos is an interaction with popular people or public figures. Someone may frequently share photos, videos, or activities with a person who has many followers. This can make the audience curious about their relationship. As a result, the person involved in the content may receive more attention than before.
However, being friends or working with a popular person does not automatically mean someone is doing pansos. People can naturally meet through work, friendship, education, or shared activities. The important difference is the purpose behind the interaction. If the main focus is repeatedly using another person's popularity to gain attention, people may describe the behavior as pansos.
SOCIAL MEDIA MAKES PANSOS MORE VISIBLE
Social media provides a simple way to show relationships and activities to a large audience. A single photo or video can reach many users through likes, comments, shares, and recommendations. This makes it easier for someone to gain attention by appearing with a well-known person. Online platforms also allow content to spread much faster than ordinary conversations.
The visible number of followers and interactions can make popularity appear measurable. When a post receives many views or comments, the person may gain more online exposure. This can encourage some users to create similar content again. As a result, social media can make pansos more noticeable and easier to discuss.
PANSOS CAN BE CONNECTED TO VALIDATION
Another reason people may engage in pansos is the desire for social validation. Positive comments, likes, followers, and public attention can make someone feel recognized by others. Being seen with a popular person may create a feeling of increased social status. For some people, this attention can become an important part of how they present themselves online.
However, relying too much on external validation can make confidence depend on other people's reactions. When attention decreases, the person may feel less recognized or less important. This is why self-confidence should not depend only on social media attention. Personal skills, values, experiences, and healthy relationships can also support confidence.
PANSOS CAN AFFECT ONLINE IMAGE
Pansos can influence how a person is viewed by social media audiences. If the behavior is repeated too often, some users may think the person is mainly seeking attention or popularity. This perception can affect the person's online reputation. People may focus more on their relationships with popular figures than on their own abilities or achievements.
At the same time, social media audiences can have different interpretations of the same behavior. Some may see an interaction as normal, while others may consider it attention-seeking. Therefore, it is important not to judge an individual based on one post alone. The overall pattern and context provide a better understanding of the behavior.
HEALTHY SOCIAL INTERACTION STILL MATTERS
Using social connections to become more visible is not always harmful. People can build healthy relationships, professional networks, and collaborations with popular individuals without treating them as tools for attention. Respect, honesty, and mutual benefit are important parts of a healthy relationship. A person can also use social media to share meaningful experiences without constantly seeking public approval.
It is also helpful to maintain a clear personal identity. Someone does not need another person's popularity to show their own skills, interests, or achievements. Building useful content and maintaining genuine relationships can create a stronger online presence over time. In this way, social media can be used for connection rather than only for gaining attention.
CONCLUSION
Pansos on social media refers to behavior associated with social climbing, attention, recognition, and popularity through social connections. It is often discussed when someone repeatedly highlights their relationship with a popular person to gain wider attention. Social media makes this behavior easier to display because content can quickly reach a large audience.
However, not every interaction with a popular person should be considered pansos. Context, purpose, frequency, and the way the relationship is presented are important factors to consider. Building genuine relationships, maintaining personal identity, and using social media responsibly can help create a healthier online presence.
Tentang Penulis
Gusti Ayu Tita P
Penulis — Universitas STEKOM
Penulis aktif yang berfokus pada isu-isu akademik, teknologi pendidikan, dan pengembangan sumber daya manusia di lingkungan kampus.