Digital Religion: Social Media and the Spread of Salafi Thought in Indonesia

Contemporary Femininities in Mormonism and in Ireland: Challenging and Confirming Essentialism in Online Spaces

Social media platforms have become significant tools for religious communication and propaganda, and in this context, the role of female influencers has been increasingly prominent. This study examines the content creation practices of prominent female religious influencers on Instagram, focusing on their strategies, themes, and audience engagement. By analyzing selected case studies, the research explores how these influencers intertwine economic, religious, and psychological themes in their content. Particular attention is given to the use of personal experiences, the integration of patriarchal traditions, and religious-philosophical elements as part of their narratives. The study also investigates the monetization strategies employed by these bloggers, including book publications, online courses, social media branding, and event organization such as marathons. The findings highlight how these influencers cater to the spiritual and material needs of their audiences while building personal brands and public images through social media platforms. Furthermore, the study contextualizes these practices within broader trends in Kazakh society. The article reveals new trends in the Kazakh media landscape by highlighting the unique approaches of female bloggers in creating and promoting content on social media compared to traditional religious institutions and their representatives. Keywords: Religious Influencer, Islam, Social Media, Instagram, Blogging

In today’s dynamic film industry, social media platforms have emerged as game changers for movie marketing and audience engagement techniques. This study digs into the tremendous impact of social media on audience involvement, analyzing both the challenges and triumphs of using these platforms for film promotion with the growth of platforms such as Instagram and YouTube, film studios now have unparalleled potential to engage consumers through captivating content, influencer collaborations, and data-driven campaigns. However, navigating the ever-changing Social media world presents substantial hurdles, such as algorithm updates, content saturation, and the need for ongoing innovation. This study investigates the distinct features and capabilities of various social media platforms, as well as their usefulness in increasing audience engagement for movie marketing. It looks at how user-generated material, interactive experiences, and community- building might help moviegoers develop long-term loyalty and advocacy. The report also digs into the challenges encountered by cinema marketers, such as maintaining a consistent brand presence across different platforms, adjusting to evolving trends and technology, and optimizing audience- centric strategies using social media analytics and data-driven insights. This study aims to uncover best practices and actionable insights for film studios looking to maximize audience engagement and propel their promotional efforts to new heights by examining case studies of successful movie marketing campaigns and analyzing the strategies used by industry leaders. Finally, this study adds to a better knowledge of the impact of social media platforms on audience engagement in the film business. paving the way for more effective and imaginative movie marketing techniques that appeal to digital consumers.

“Does Anybody Have A Map?”: The Impact of “Virtual Broadway” on Musical Theater Composition

Dissemination of medical publications on social media - is it the new standard?

Social media (SM) platforms have demonstrated their ability to facilitate knowledge sharing on the global scale. They are increasingly often employed in educational and humanitarian domains where, despite their general benefits, they expose challenges peculiar to these domains. Specifically, the research context of this thesis is directed by my participation in the Go-Lab European project and my collaboration with Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) where SM platforms were used extensively. In this thesis, we address four challenges regarding analytics, privacy, discovery, and delivery, aiming to answer corresponding four research questions. How to provide user-oriented analytics in knowledge sharing systems to support awareness and reflection? What privacy management interfaces and mechanisms are suitable for knowledge analytics and learning analytics? How to enable discovery of knowledge relevant to user interests? How to facilitate knowledge delivery into settings where Internet connectivity is limited or absent? Henceforward, we provide an overview of our results. Analytics. To enable awareness and reflection for an SM platform users, we propose the embedded contextual analytics model where the analytics is embedded into the interaction context and presents information relevant to that particular context. Also, we propose two general architectures materializing this model respectfully based on real-time analytical applications and a scalable analytic back-end. Using these architectures, we provided analytics services to the SM platform users. We conducted an evaluation with the users demonstrating that embedded contextual analytics was useful to support their awareness and reflection. Privacy. To address the privacy concerns associated with the recording, storage, and analysis of user interaction traces, we propose a novel agent-based privacy management model. Our proposal uses a metaphor of physical presence of a tracking agent in an interaction context making the platform user aware of the tracking and allows to manage the tracking policy in a way similar to the physical world. We have implemented the proposed privacy interface in an SM platform and obtained positive evaluation results with the users. Discovery. Due to a large number of content items stored in SM platforms, it can be challenging for the users to find relevant knowledge. Addressing this challenge, we propose an interactive recommender system based on user interests enabling discovery of relevant content and people. We have implemented the proposed recommender in an SM platform and conducted two evaluations with platform users. The evaluations demonstrated the ability of the approach to identify relevant user interests and to recommend relevant content. Delivery. At the moment of writing in 2016, near half of the world's population still does not have reliable Internet access. Often, the places where humanitarian action is needed have limited Internet connection. We propose a novel knowledge delivery model that relies on a peer-to-peer middleware and uses low-cost computers for local knowledge replication. We have developed a system implementing the model and evaluated it during eight deployments in MSF missions. The evaluation demonstrated its knowledge delivery abilities and its usefulness for the field staff.

Purpose: This study aims to analyse how Akmal Sjafril constructs religious authority through narrative framing, linguistic strategies, and value integration in his social media engagement. Methodology: This research employed a qualitative approach using virtual ethnography (netnography) to examine Akmal Sjafril’s digital narratives on Twitter. Data were collected through virtual observation, documentation of tweets, and semi-structured interviews, and were analysed using an interactive model of qualitative analysis. Findings: The study reveals that Akmal Sjafril systematically builds religious authority by constructing narratives that defend Islamic teachings against liberal and secular reinterpretations, using adaptive linguistic styles to engage a diverse digital audience, and embedding core Islamic values—such as interfaith tolerance, noble character, and critical thinking rooted in faith—into his digital communication. His approach demonstrates how religious figures can sustain both credibility and audience engagement in a fragmented digital public sphere, blending theological consistency with communicative adaptability. Research Implications: These findings contribute to the broader understanding of religious authority in the digital era by showing how figures can negotiate credibility through adaptive digital strategies without compromising doctrinal authenticity. The research suggests the need for digital literacy initiatives, ethical guidelines for religious communication, and institutional support for promoting comprehensive religious narratives in online spaces. Originality/Value: This study provides a unique contribution by integrating narrative construction, linguistic adaptation, and value-based communication into the analysis of digital religious authority, offering new insights into how Islamic figures navigate legitimacy within the networked dynamics of social media environments.

This article explores the evolving landscape of religious preaching in the digital age, focusing on women religious preachers. In today's world, religious discourse increasingly unfolds on various social media platforms, and the internet has become an integral part of daily life. Social media, once primarily a virtual social network, has now assumed a significant role in various aspects of society. Women religious preachers have taken center stage on social media platforms. They employ diverse communication styles and cover various topics, all aiming to promote good and prevent evil under Islamic values. This research employs qualitative methods and focuses on five prominent female daiyahs active on various social media platforms. We conducted an extensive online survey to assess their impact, audience engagement, and user preferences. Social media analytics tools were used to gather insights into reach, engagement, and emerging trends related to their content. Content analysis was conducted to unveil recurring themes, messaging strategies, and overall influence on their audience. Importantly, these women are engaging in religious discourse and shaping their Islamic identities through their distinct preaching styles. It discusses the adaptability of media technology in the Indonesian context, where global mobile phone practices have been localized and Islamized. This article sheds light on the profound impact of social media on religious preaching and underscores the crucial role of women religious preachers in this evolving landscape. It provides insights into their diverse activities and contributions to religious discourse in the digital age.

<em><span lang="EN-US">This study aims to determine the role of netizen actors on social media in the digital marketing of a product brand, like #HondaBeAT. Nowadays, the use of social media to exchange information is increasing for the dissemination of messages and other contents. In the digital marketing ecosystem, social media plays an important role in introducing products, enhancing a positive image, and building relationships with customers. The use of social media platforms, such as Twitter and Instagram, has attracted the attention of the younger generation, especially the millennial generation (Y) and the post-millennial generation (Z). The level of effectiveness of digital marketing is also influenced and determined by the progress of netizen actors, such as followers, influencers, and buzzers. Their role is increasingly important to convey information more effectively through various product and service brand content on various social media platforms. This study uses a qualitative approach to analyze data from social media conversations on Twitter and Instagram within a certain period of time with the help of the Drone Emprit Academic (DEA) application. This research reveals the progress of netizen actors on the company’s official accounts of Twitter and Instagram as a basic understanding for designing and compiling digital marketing strategies using product brand hashtags. This study also found that the netizen actors studied had their respective roles in strengthening the delivery of messages and content on social media.</span></em>

Guidance for Professional Use of Social Media in Nutrition and Dietetics Practice

Twitter Archives and the Challenges of "Big Social Data" for Media and Communication Research

This study delves into the profound impact of social media on body image perceptions and overall dissatisfaction among young adults at Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad. In today's digital age, social media pervades the lives of young people, shaping their self-perceptions and influencing their social interactions. This research aims to understand how the constant exposure to curated and often idealized images on social media platforms contributes to the development of unrealistic body standards, fostering feelings of inadequacy and pressure to conform to societal beauty ideals. Employing a quantitative research approach, the study focused on a sample of 200 undergraduate and postgraduate students aged 18 to 30 years. Data collection utilized systematic sampling techniques and involved the administration of questionnaires via Google Forms. The study drew upon Social Comparison Theory to understand how individuals evaluate their own appearance by comparing themselves to the seemingly flawless images and physiques presented on social media platforms. Data analysis was conducted using IBM SPSS Statistics. The findings revealed a significant correlation between social media usage and body image dissatisfaction among young adults. Frequent comparisons with idealized images of influencers and celebrities on social media platforms were found to be a major contributor to negative body image perceptions, leading to a range of negative emotional and psychological outcomes, including anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. These findings underscore the urgent need for interventions that address the detrimental effects of social media on young adults' mental health. 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Youth Social Media Use and Health Outcomes: #diggingdeeper

Social media (SM) platforms allow users to communicate rapidly, exchange information, and create and share real-time content. Currently, 4.5 billion people use social media worldwide, making it an influential part of daily life. Beyond information sharing, social media facilitates communication, transfers information, and serves as a platform for advertising and shaping public opinion. Researchers analyse these aspects to understand and describe societal realities. The primary purpose of this paper is to analyse social media’s impact on global research. The research included an analysis of the most popular social platforms, considering the number of Web of Science (WoS) articles relating to them and the year in which the platform was established or the Monthly Active Users (MAU) factor. Data were collected based on the WoS database in the topic (which contains texts of title, abstract, author keywords, and Keywords Plus) of the articles, where phrases containing names of SM platforms were used. Quantitative research is a type of research that analyses data numerically to find relationships and statistical regularities of searched phrases. The impact of social media on the dissemination of research and findings was analysed based on the results of the study and also on the literature data. This research reveals a lack of correlation between the number of articles indexed in the WoS and the MAU of individual social media platforms. This observation raises an important question: do social media researchers focus on studying the platforms used by the majority, thereby providing a more accurate representation of current social dynamics? This article is helpful for researchers, policymakers, and social media platform developers seeking to understand the role of social media in shaping modern communication and public discourse. The most important finding of the paper is the low correlation between the number of SM users and the impact of social media platforms on learning, as exemplified by the Twitter (Note: Twitter was an American social networking service rebranded as X in 2023. As the period of data analysed in this paper covered the years up to 2022, the authors decided to stay with the name Twitter) platform, which is the 17th largest SM platform but is the 2nd (after Facebook) in implications for science.

Social media have made possible new kinds of relationships, politics, and entertainment. On the one hand, they have enabled billions of people to experience new forms of communication, community, and communion. But on the other, they are also profit-driven, data-mining corporations, whose core business model is often built around surveillance and the commercial exploitation of their users’ everyday lives. Researching and analyzing social media involves navigating between these two poles. Social media platforms have complicated earlier understandings of communication: they do not allow for simple distinctions between personal communication and public media. One way of approaching them is to start with their most basic affordances. So first, social media are those that any user can, in principle, use to say and make things for an audience. Second, that user can then choose to share the things they have said or made with others, whether with a restricted network of friends and followers, or with an unknowable audience. They can also share things that others have said or made, and may be prompted by the platform to do this. And third, such activities make the user visible to others, who become visible to them in turn, creating possibilities for connection, communication, and collaboration, but also for monitoring, surveillance, and exploitation. Some of the following selections address social media as part of wider discussions about digital media, culture, society, or politics. Other choices focus on individual social media apps or platforms. This bibliography provides some historical context for the emergence of social media and identifies key introductory overviews and core texts. It also introduces resources for investigating social media platforms and the life course; the relationships between these platforms and news and journalism; and the uses of social media in campaigns for social, cultural, or political change. There are sections on distinctive communicative aspects of social media, such as memes, remix, and trolling, and on some of the most important aspects of surveillance and visibility. The final section points to some broader contextual and emerging directions that situate social media within the wider digital media environment.