DIGITAL PLATFORMS AS NEW SOCIAL CAPITAL IN ISLAMIC RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

A Virtual Ethnographic Analysis

Abstract

This study is motivated by the rapid development of digital technology and the paradigm shift in social interaction in the digital age, particularly in the context of Islamic religious education. The existence of digital platforms as a medium for communication and information opens up new opportunities to utilize social capital in the learning process. This study aims to analyze the interaction between viewers and content creators on Islamic accounts on digital platforms, specifically TikTok. Using a virtual ethnographic approach, this study explores how the dynamics of social interaction and the formation of virtual religious communities occur through da'wah content. This article argues that characteristic of content forms characteristic of participative comments. The results show that the three accounts build religious authority through different approaches: @wakkajishodiq through cultural proximity, @huseinjafar through an intellectual approach, and @kadamsidik00 through an emotional approach. The interactions formed indicate that viewers are not merely passive but also active in shaping the meaning of da'wah through comments, discussions, and spiritual solidarity. This study reveals that digital platforms like TikTok are not merely tools for disseminating messages but also serve as flexible, participatory, and contextual spaces for informal religious education. The study’s conclusions highlight that digital platforms have created a new model in Islamic religious education, where social interaction and the formation of social capital are key elements in the learning process.