Keep Halal Bro: Analyze the Interplay Between Social Networking and Café Cultures Toward Islamic Self-Conception among Muslim Youth in Pekanbaru City, Indonesia

Abstract

This article discusses the relationship between Muslims, cafes, and social media. Although cafes are constructed as modern public spaces and are considered "non-Islamic," it does not mean they have no connection with Islam. Therefore, this article seeks to answer questions about the nature of the relationship between Islam, cafes, and social media. Additionally, it explores the extent to which young Muslims access cafes and how they construct their identities of piety and youthfulness in cafes and online spaces. To address these questions, the author's teams conducted fieldwork in several cafes in Pekanbaru, Riau, Indonesia. Subsequently, the authors conducted observations and interviews with cafe owners and several young individuals using a narrative approach. This research indicates that cafes have become comfortable spaces for young Muslims. They negotiate their Islamic identity with the modern identities present in cafes. The formation of youthful identities is also inseparable from the use of social media among young people. These findings deconstruct the long-held view held by some scholars or communities that cafes are considered public spaces disconnected from Islam.