Social Construction of Traditional MSME Actors Towards QRIS Digital Payment Adoption in Surabaya

Technological developments encourage the adoption of digital payment systems in various sectors, including Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). However, traditional MSME actors in Surabaya City show diverse responses to this change. This study aims to understand how the social construction of traditional MSME actors towards digital payments is formed. Using a qualitative approach and the social construction theory of Peter L. Berger and Thomas Luckmann, this study explores the processes of internalization, objectivation, and externalization in forming the meaning of the digital payment system. Data were obtained through in-depth interviews with five traditional MSME actors conducted between April and May 2025. Findings indicate that cash payments remain the dominant method, as they are considered easier, safer, and more in line with old habits. Low levels of digital literacy and concerns about the security and complexity of technology are the main obstacles to the adoption of digital payments. However, trust in the digital system has begun to grow gradually, mainly influenced by positive experiences and support from the community, family, and customers. The social construction of MSME actors towards digital payments is formed through ongoing social interactions, so that the adoption of this technology cannot be separated from the social and cultural contexts that surround it.