It is the act of secretly watching, stalking, or spying on a romantic couple, usually friends or acquaintances. This is often disguised as "iseng-iseng berhadiah" (mischief for a reward) or "bucin hunting" (finding lovesick couples).

Even in a public park, a couple has a reasonable expectation of privacy. Filming or watching them without consent—and then sharing it on WhatsApp groups or TikTok—is a form of digital harassment.

While couples are the target, the female partner bears the brunt of the social damage. Indonesian culture retains a strong perawan (virginity) complex.

When a video of a couple kissing surfaces online, the comments section is predictable:

The laki-laki (man) is often treated as a hero succeeding in a conquest; the perempuan (woman) is treated as damaged goods. Feminist activists in Indonesia argue that ngintip is a tool of patriarchal control—a method to keep women indoors and fearful of public space after 7 PM.

One of the most common contexts for "ngintip" is during ronda or siskamling (night neighborhood watch patrols).