THE IMPACT OF TIK-TOK SOCIAL MEDIA ON THE YOUNG GENERATION'S UNDERSTANDING OF ISLAMIC WORLD ISSUES

Abstract

This research assesses the effects of the Islamic world and its issues as portrayed on TikTok. This social media platform has gained popularity amongst the youth based on the younger generation's understanding of it. The study attempts to fill the gap in the problem of disinformation and shallow understanding disseminated through videos aimed at short attention spans. The goal is to analyze how the content of TikTok videos impacts the youth's knowledge and thinking regarding affairs of the Islamic world, including how it influences their perception and attitude towards it and their ability to think critically. This qualitative study comprises content analysis of TikTok videos pertinent to Islam issues and extensive interviews with selected young Muslims aged 17-25. The results revealed that while TikTok is relatively easy and quick to use and thus can be informative, it frequently fails to provide accurate or reliable information. Influencers and content creators profoundly impact viewers' opinions yet often lack context, substance, and credibility. Still, some advocates within educational forums have raised coverage of Islamic issues and interest in investigating them further. This research has shown that TikTok affects the youth's understanding in two opposing ways; for those with low media literacy and media literacy and the right TikTok content, understanding is worse content is better quality understanding improves. Thus, the author recommends strongly focusing on digital literacy to help young people identify trustworthy resources about Islam.