"As Muslim individuals, communities, and institutions have been transformed by the digital revolution, a literature has developed that seeks to contribute knowledge about these changes. Pioneering studies in this field suggest that this literature has a focus on digital documents. This scoping liter
...
ature review aims to find out whether this focus is still valid. Therefore, we examine all studies on Muslims and social media that can be retrieved from the databases Scopus, Web of Science, Index Islamicus and Atla Religion Database between 2010 and 2022, using the following keywords: Facebook; Twitter (tweets); YouTube; Instagram; TikTok; Snapchat; and Telegram (n = 359). Our findings show that interest in studying Muslims on social media has grown significantly in recent decades and that most studies have focused on non-conflictual use of social media. Most of the studies are corpus studies, i.e. big data, data scraping, or descriptive analysis of websites, Twitter accounts, or Facebook pages (82 percent). Thus, this literature review shows that the study of Islam, Muslims, and Islamic online environments is flourishing in various fields of scholarship. However, the strong focus on descriptive documentary studies should be complemented by more studies that collect new empirical data through interviews, surveys, and mixed methods. It is only by engaging with the users of these services that we can answer when, what, and why individuals do or do not do something on social media." (Abstract)
more
"The way people communicate, gather, and process information continues to evolve in response to new communication technologies. With the rise of the internet and digital media, the use of traditional media platforms, such as radio, decreased. Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a non-profit Catholic radio sta
...
tion, transitioned from shortwave broadcasting to a digital online format to address the decline in its radio listenership. With these changes in RVA, this study aimed to understand the media consumption patterns, preferences, and satisfaction levels of religious online media consumers in South and Southeast Asia, including the Philippines, with a specific focus on their engagement with the Radio Veritas Asia website. Through online surveys, the study found that media consumption patterns, preferences, and satisfaction levels vary moderately across the Philippines, Southeast Asia, and South Asia. The frequency of religious content consumption, such as news about the Catholic faith and daily Gospel reflections via the RVA website, ranges from three to seven days per week. While the internet offers multimodality-encompassing textual, visual, audio, and audiovisual formats-there remains a strong preference for written text among South and Southeast Asian audiences. Satisfaction levels were consistently high across all areas. This satisfaction is influenced by RVA's digital platform's characteristics, its usability, and its content, which effectively address the cognitive, emotional, and social needs of the audience." (Abstract)
more
"This study aims to examine how active users of social media in relation to their religious values and commitments evaluate the construction and byproducts of religion online. The results show that there are three main repertoires related to the use of social media and religiosity in Turkey: religio
...
sity as religious duties, religiosity as interpreting Islam and religiosity for managing impressions. The results can be evaluated together with the secularization theory, that is, discourses about being religious ‘warn’ individuals about the negative consequences of social media use, while offering an alternative to the positive ones." (Publisher description)
more
"This qualitative study report primarily details the reactions of local audiences in Lebanon, Iraq, and Sudan and their perception of media content produced by journalist trained by ENQUIRE (Enhancing Quality Information on Religious Freedoms). The content is compared with that of more traditional,
...
local media, in order to assess the professional development of the trained journalists and better identify potential areas of improvement in terms of appealing to the audience and gaining traction and influence. It also adds another dimension, as it seeks to understand how these audiences, coming from different genders, ages as well as religions, consume and trust (or distrust) media content in general. Understanding their perceptions and opinions would allow for the production of more engaging and thought-provoking content in the future, while sparking conversations related to religious minorities. In that respect, although each country has its own set of individual findings, several common trends emerge. The online realm, namely Facebook and WhatsApp, dominates the audience’s media consumption patterns and is often the first resort due to its ease of access and its capacity to make users feel in control of what they consume. This presents its own set of risks and must be appropriately addressed in future endeavors. Regardless, it is too soon to completely discount offline media especially with the ever-present TV stations that manage to reach and influence a significant portion of the population, according to the participants. Despite the difficulty to precisely define it, trust remains an element that manages to greatly shape media consumption patterns. As for the ENQUIRE-trained journalists, their content enjoyed a mixed reception. On the one hand, it often proved to be highly educational and thought-provoking, which is one of the goals of this project. On the other hand, there were times where it was perceived as inflammatory and could not be told apart from typical media outlets’ production, which many participants often avoid." (Executive summary)
more
"Die vorliegende Pilotstudie kontextualisiert zunächst das Phänomen, das sich hinter dem Begriff „Digitale Communities“ verbirgt im Feld der wissenschaftlichen Begleitforschung und nimmt begriffliche Schärfungen vor (Kap. 2). Im Zentrum stehen dann die empirischen Ergebnisse der Befragung der
...
Followerschaft der 13 christlichen Influencer*innen auf Instagram (Kap. 4) und die daraus ableitbaren Steckbriefe der 13 Instagram-Profile (Kap. 9). Schließlich werden Einsichten, Fragestellungen und Ausblicke vorgestellt, die sich aus der Interpretation der empirischen Ergebnisse für die evangelische Kirche, ihre kirchliche Praxis und ihr Digitalisierungsbestreben ergeben (Kap. 5). Eine Einordnung der Ergebnisse aus Sicht des yeet-Netzwerkes nimmt Lilith Becker als Leiterin des Netzwerkes vor (Kap. 6) und eine praktisch-theologische Einordnung PD Dr. Sabrina Müller und Mag.Theol. Alina Knapp (Kap. 7)." (Einleitung)
more
"There is a growing gap between the coverage of religion and the needs of the faithful–global desire for better coverage, understanding and representation of faith in media. 53% of respondents [of the online survey among 9,489 adults in 18 countries across six continents] say the media actively ig
...
nores religion as an aspect of society and culture today. 59% of respondents believe it’s important that the news media covers a diverse set of faith and religious perspectives or content. 63% of people globally said that high quality content on faith and religion is needed in their respective countries. People want faith and religious stereotypes to be addressed: 61% say media perpetuates these stereotypes rather than protects against them. 78% believe such stereotypes should get the same or more attention as race and gender stereotypes. 8 in 10 believe faith and religious groups must provide more relevant spokespeople. Over 85% want more diversity and lived experiences from these representatives (among those who feel faith and media groups must do more). Journalists feel that coverage of faith & religion is poor, inconsistent, and becoming more marginalized. They express fear around ’getting right’ religious coverage, particularly in largely secular newsrooms. Religious stories are not seen as a good fit for ‘hard’ news, easier to do ‘soft’ coverage and focus ‘hard’ news on times of controversy or scandal." (Findings at-a-glance, page 5)
more
"In der öffentlichen Debatte wird Online-Videos aus dem Spektrum des radikalen Islam zugeschrieben, einen großen Einfluss auf junge Menschen auszuüben. Doch wie nehmen junge Muslim*innen und Nicht-Muslim*innen diese Videos tatsächlich wahr? Wie stark wird ihre Sicht auf die Inhalte von ihrem Rel
...
igionsverständnis, ihrer sozialen Zugehörigkeit und aktuellen politischen und gesellschaftlichen Debatten in Deutschland beeinflusst? Diese qualitative Studie untersucht die Rezeption ausgewählter radikalislamischer Videos von Marcel Krass, Ahmad Armih (bekannt unter dem Pseudonym »Ahmad Abul Baraa«) sowie von Yasin Bala (»Yasin al-Hanafi«)." (Verlagsbeschreibung)
more
"Utilising results of an unprecedented global study, this volume explores the ways in which young adults in seven different countries engage with digital and social media in religiously significant ways. Presenting and analysing the findings of the international research project Young Adults and Rel
...
igion in a Global Perspective (YARG), an international panel of contributors shed new light on the impact of digital media and its associated technologies on young people's religiosities, worldviews, and values. Case studies from China, Finland, Ghana, Israel, Peru, Poland, and Turkey are used to demonstrate how these developments are progressing, not just in the West, but across the world." (Publisher description)
more
"Satellite TV and the Internet revolutions have reinvigorated religious discourse in public spaces. Across the world, religious TV channels and Internet religious websites have taken up the roles of traditional religious spaces such as churches, mosques, synagogues, gurdwaras and temples. Islamic re
...
ligious content through fatwa (religious verdict) programmes and other online and satellite TV genre has attracted considerable attention over the last fifteen years. Such programmes have become influential platforms in constructing people’s opinions. On Islamic-oriented satellite TV channels, fatwa provision has nowadays become a sophisticated phenomenon exceeding the traditional scope of religious teaching. To understand fatwa and its possible impact, it is necessary to gauge the plethora of platforms available for audiences and users as sources of understanding their religious needs starting with satellite TV programmes to the unlimited online platforms for the diffusion of their religious decree. This research attempts to understand the extent to which fatwa programmes on satellite TV and radio are significant in shaping people’s opinion. Through the implementation of an extensive survey questionnaire on a sample of the Qatari society in addition to interviews with experts and religious scholars, findings show that fatwa on satellite programme can be very important in helping viewers better understand their religion. The results also indicated that respondents included in the survey showed apathy when it comes to the implementation of rulings coming from muftis on TV. In short, respondents may watch fatwa or religious programmes on satellite TV or they may listen to them on the Qur’an radio in Qatar but they do not necessarily consider them as totally authentic. Authentic scholarly views on matters of religious seem to be more credible when they originate from a reputable Imam whom they see face to face. Moreover, results show that satellite TV has facilitated the emergence of the pan-Arab mufti or global Faqeeh. It has also facilitated the emergence of independent muftis and freed fatwa from the official religious authorities in various countries." (Publisher description)
more
"In a nutshell, this research reveals that indigenous Tamil Christian satellite television channels [i.e., Angel TV, Aaseervatham TV, Madha TV, Power of God TV, Salvation TV] are liked by the Christian viewers. The viewers watch those channels for the gratifications of moral, psychological, and reli
...
gious benefits. Therefore, the religious television channels have multiple responsibilities of gratifying the viewers morally, socially, culturally, and psychologically. This research makes a gentle recommendation to the Christians in Tamil Nadu that they may watch Tamil Christian religious channels to fulfil their religious, moral, psychological, social, cultural, educational, and family needs." (Page 238)
more
"This thesis is a theoretically framed and historically informed sociological analysis of how digital technology usage shapes religious identity in Pakistan. The development literature is dominated by assumptions of technologically driven progress towards secularisation and studies of technology pro
...
jects, yet there are few empirical studies of everyday ICT day use, and religion remains significant in Pakistan. To explain this, I draw on theoretical literature, the Pakistan religious identity literature and twelve months of fieldwork (2014-2015) to present an analysis of how Facebook shapes the enactment of religious identity by young people in three cities in the Punjab, Pakistan [...] My empirical findings show that the new technologies of social media, mobile phones and mobile internet interact with public discourse and everyday practice to shape religious identity. First, I show this by describing how Facebook’s construction as a blasphemous technology strengthens existing discourses of religious nationalism. Second, I show how Facebook’s technological discourses of singular authenticity shape the enactment of religious identity with implications for religious minorities. My final analysis theorises how the use of Facebook shapes religious identity through the emergence of what I call ‘digital secularisation’." (Abstract)
more
"The paper focuses on the social media use in religious communication by Kerala Christians who largely migrated after India's independence to Ahmedabat, Gujarat, India. Further, the paper attempts to analyze the way digital and social media are accessed and utilized by the migrant Kerala Christians
...
in Ahmedabat for religious as well as non-religious purposes. The paper is basedon a survey of social media and a pilot study was carried out by interns of a business school in Ahmedabat which was followed by a large survey of three religious groups namely Hindu, Muslim and Christian during February-April 2015. The present paper is based on a survey of 211 Christian respondents in the total sample of 711." (Page 67)
more
"The emergence of Islam and Muslim public spheres in cyberspace has progressed along with the development of Information and Communication Technologies. Just like believers of other faiths, Muslim individuals are enthusiastic in sharing their faith, beliefs, and values at the click of a mouse. Based
...
on an online survey conducted on 525 respondents, this study seeks further understanding on the factors that influence engagement in online religious activities among Muslims. Through the application of the Theory of Planned Behavior, results from the study revealed five important predictors of online religious engagement, namely attitude–Internet perception, the subjective norms of the Muslim community, the Internet self-efficacy, level of religiosity among Muslims, and offline media usage for religious purposes." (Abstract)
more
"Today the relations between Arab audiences and Arab media are characterised by pluralism and fragmentation. More than a thousand Arab satellite TV channels alongside other new media platforms are offering all kinds of programming. Religion has also found a vital place as a topic in mainstream media
...
or in one of the approximately 135 religious satellite channels that broadcast guidance and entertainment with an Islamic frame of reference. How do Arab audiences make use of mediated religion in negotiations of identity and belonging? The empirical based case studies in this interdisciplinary volume explore audience-media relations with a focus on religious identity in different countries such as Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Great Britain, Germany, Denmark, and the United States." (Publisher description)
more
"Cet ouvrage analyse l’environnement des radios confessionnelles et leurs stratégies de communication dans un contexte médiatique, religieux et social marqué par le libéralisme et de profondes mutations. Il nous fait découvrir l’extraordinaire expansion des médias radiophoniques en Afrique
...
subsaharienne depuis le début des années 1990. L’étude porte essentiellement sur quatre pays d’Afrique de l’Ouest, mais examine aussi des exemples bien connus en Afrique centrale et en Afrique de l’Est. On verra que tout en faisant une large part au message religieux, les radios mettent volontiers l’accent sur les problèmes sociaux: développement, condition féminine, démocratie et État de droit, questions de santé – la maladie et sa guérison. Les radios confessionnelles africaines mènent donc de front le prosélytisme et l’engagement social au nom de la logique d’une mission à double sens: ad intra et ad extra, sans oublier le « divertissement ». (Description de la maison d'édition)
more
"Este informe analiza las prácticas y consumos mediático-culturales del colectivo marroquí en España, uno de los más numerosos y con un evidente grado de asentamiento como resultado de un ciclo migratorio que ya acumula más de cuatro décadas. Las condiciones objetivas que muestran tal grado d
...
e asentamiento contrastan con las percepciones sociales negativas que sigue recibiendo por parte de la sociedad española. Unas percepciones, también de larga trayectoria histórica, que son resultado de una intensa relación de vecindad e intercambio entre Marruecos y España. Hemos estructurado este informe en cinco apartados temáticos. El primero de ellos es básicamente descriptivo, y pretende hacer una somera radiografía de la presencia del colectivo marroquí en España, destacando aquellos elementos que caracterizan su proceso de asentamiento. En segundo lugar, abordamos las tendencias generales que se muestran en el seno de este colectivo en relación al consumo mediático-cultural. Nos hemos basado en sondeos estadísticos, complementados con entrevistas en profundidad/cuestionarios, material que ha sido explotado con la intención de establecer ese perfil de consumo. A continuación, hemos abordado el tema desde una perspectiva religiosa, al entender que ésta alberga nuevas formas de expresión de acceso a productos y contenidos mediáticoculturales. Los dos siguientes apartados, con una vocación también temática, se centran, respectivamente, en el estudio del seguimiento de esta oferta mediático-cultural entre la juventud de origen marroquí y en la oferta disponible de medios de comunicación que han sido producidos por y/o para la población oriunda de Marruecos en el contexto de la sociedad española. Finalizamos con una síntesis de conclusiones y de propuestas generales." (Introducción, página 3-4)
more
"On the whole, it seems religious television viewing had moderate or no influence whatsoever at attitudinal level among Hindu and non-Hindu viewers. In the light of the analysis, it is argued that strongly held religious beliefs and cultural dictates would not get influenced by religious television
...
viewing as it lacked religious and spiritual sanctity." (Page 17)
more