Recently, Indonesia has been abuzz with the trending hashtag "Just run away for now," which voices public opinion on several budget policies in Indonesia. The "just run away for now" phenomenon generally involves many young, productive individuals in Indonesia who choose to continue their lives and even settle abroad.

According to data collected by the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Cultural Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia (KEMENKO RI) in the year of 2020 through its official website, Indonesia is one of the largest contributors of migrants in Southeast Asia. It was estimated that around 4.6 million Indonesians left their country to search for new and better livelihood abroad.

Many Indonesian citizens migrate abroad in search of better and more prosperous economic opportunities, but several other factors can trigger the majority of the workforce to leave Indonesia, such as:

1. Unrealistic job recruitment standards in Indonesia

2. More promising living standards abroad

3. Emotional well-being and economic appreciation given to the workforce abroad

4. More stringent labor policies (Work Union Rights) abroad

Although the prospect of working abroad has been around for a long time, the steps taken to efficiently allocate national funding, foreign investors' reluctance to invest in Indonesia—which leads to a decline in Indonesian human resource development—and the depreciation of local culture have all accelerated the popularity of migration, especially for Indonesia's Generation Z and Generation Alpha.

Moreover, the currently popular "just run away for now" step could have adverse effects on Indonesia's future development. Another phenomenon that has become a hot topic on social media is "brain drain," which will occur when Indonesia loses many of its productive talents. In simple terms, brain drain arises from the depletion of educated and highly skilled workers due to mass migration abroad in search of better opportunities.

So, is "just run away for now," which leads to brain drain, the only option for Indonesians? The answer is either a no or it depends. Before choosing to seek more promising prospects abroad, young people should carefully consider several factors such as:

1. The legitimacy of the foreign recruitment companies to avoid human trafficking and exploitation

2. The cost of living and social equality abroad, which can be a make-or-break moment for Indonesian immigrants

3. Promising terms and salaries may not be the final determining factors. People need to carefully consider the skill specializations that serve as acceptance criteria to avoid disappointment during the selection process

To minimize the demographic of "just run away for now" and the effects of brain drain, what can be done? As academics, the role that can be played is to enhance research dedication while building an inclusive and collaborative academic culture by promoting the exchange of ideas and knowledge among students, academics, and industry.

With many academic breakthroughs, the economy will gradually recover through the development of creativity and innovation, especially for the productive-age workforce. Dian Nusantara University, which often encourages its students to not only develop as academics but also as visionaries who will shape Indonesia's future. UNDIRA has also demonstrated its commitment through various outreach activities and policy development aimed at increasing the efficiency and welfare of SMEs.

It is hoped that this article serves not only as a call for the younger generation to resist the anxiety triggered by the "just run away for now" trend on social media but also to foster the spirit that as Generation Z, we can become agents of change for our country.