Khusnul Khotimah, Abdul Hakim, Robiansyah Robiansyah, Aisyah Trees Sandy

Enhancing Student Religiosity Through Islamic Content and Influencer Expertise: Social Media Contribution as Mediator

Introduction

Enhancing student religiosity through islamic content and influencer expertise: social media contribution as mediator. Discover how Islamic content and influencer expertise on social media enhance Muslim students' religiosity. This study highlights the importance of quality teachings and interactive engagement in digital spaces.

Abstract

The rise of social media has altered how young Muslims learn about their faith, but the effect on their everyday religious practices is unclear. To comprehend how Islamic content and influencers impact religious practices, this study makes use of the Social Learning Theory and the Uses and Gratifications Theory. It also examines social media contribution as a potential link in the chain. 180 Muslim students from 13 faculties at the University of Mulawarman were given a structured questionnaire as part of a quantitative study. Purposive sampling was used to choose respondents, considering the population's infinite size and two particular requirements: frequent interaction with Muslim influencers and Islamic content on social media and active use of social media. Data were gathered using adapted instruments from earlier research, and PLS-SEM was used for analysis. The findings demonstrate that the quality of Islamic content significantly influences religiosity practices both directly and indirectly (through social media contribution). The practice of religiosity is not directly impacted by Muslim influencer expertise, but it does have a notable indirect impact through social media contributions. These results emphasize how crucial interactive engagement and high-quality Islamic teachings are in promoting religious behavior. These findings highlight the importance of high-quality Islamic teachings and interactive engagement in encouraging religious behavior. The study offers helpful insights for Islamic education by highlighting the need for relatable, reliable content and influencers who can promote value-driven engagement. It enables us to comprehend how youth religiosity is shaped by digital spaces and how structured online interaction can reinforce it.

Review

The submitted manuscript addresses a highly relevant and timely topic concerning the evolving landscape of religious education and practice among young Muslims in the digital age. Leveraging Social Learning Theory and the Uses and Gratifications Theory, the study meticulously investigates how Islamic content and the expertise of Muslim influencers shape students' religiosity, with social media contribution posited as a crucial mediating factor. The methodology employed is a quantitative approach, utilizing a structured questionnaire administered to 180 Muslim students from the University of Mulawarman. The purposive sampling strategy, targeting active social media users who frequently interact with relevant content and influencers, appears well-suited to the study's objectives, and the use of PLS-SEM for data analysis is appropriate for exploring complex relationships between constructs. The findings present a nuanced understanding of digital religiosity. Notably, the quality of Islamic content emerged as a significant predictor of religiosity practices, demonstrating both direct and indirect effects through social media contribution. More interestingly, while Muslim influencer expertise did not exhibit a direct impact on religiosity practices, its significant indirect effect via social media contribution underscores the critical role of interactive engagement. This suggests that mere exposure to an expert influencer is less impactful than the active participation and interaction they facilitate. These results compellingly emphasize that high-quality, relevant Islamic teachings, coupled with opportunities for dynamic user engagement within social media environments, are paramount in fostering and reinforcing religious behavior among students. The study offers valuable insights with significant implications for Islamic education and the broader understanding of youth religiosity in digital spaces. By highlighting the necessity for relatable, reliable, and high-quality Islamic content, alongside influencers capable of promoting value-driven engagement, the research provides actionable recommendations for educators and religious leaders. It effectively elucidates how digital platforms can be strategically leveraged to shape and strengthen youth religiosity through structured online interaction. Future research could expand upon these findings by exploring the qualitative dimensions of "social media contribution," examining the long-term impact of such engagement, or comparing findings across different cultural contexts and age groups to further enrich our comprehension of digital religious formation.

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