Exposure to Da'wah Message among Young Social Media Users in Aceh: A Reflection of Habermas's Communicative Action

Abstract

This study aims to reveal social media platforms' transformative power as new public spheres concerning religious discource among Acehnese Muslim students. Using a descriptive quantitative method through online survey with 129 of those students, this study has revealed that social media have contributed providing a new public sphere for young Muslim and have become an essential part of Islamic proselytising (da'wah). In this regard, most young social media users utilised social media to discuss Islamic da'wah as well as to express their thought concerning on shariah enforcement. Therefore this study argues that social media use has a close relationship with increasing religious thoughts and knowledge in realising da'wah.