Factors Influencing Tabayyun in Political Information among Gen Z: A Preliminary Study

Abstract

In Malaysia, internet usage increase every year and is largely dominated by Gen Z. The youth group has easy access to the internet and they use new media most often. New media is also more independent, offering more extensive and open discussion when compared to traditional media. However, if the dissemination of information is not well controlled, then it will lead to negative conduct. In Islam, those who receive any news or information should analyze and verify the accuracy of the information first which is tabayyun. Therefore, this preliminary study was carried out to analyses the factors that influence Generation Z in Malaysia ages from 12 to 30 to practice tabayyun when they receive political information and news through social media. This study involved 190 students from Universiti Sultan Azlan Shah (USAS) using a quantitative method by distributing questionnaires online. Factor analysis has been conducted for independent variables and produced four constructs namely responsibility, authority, self-awareness, and understanding. Then, correlation and multiple regression analyses were conducted to examine the relationship between Tabayyun practice and various potential predictors (independent variables). It was found that these variables statistically significantly predicted Tabayyun practice, F (4,185) = 98.324, p < 0.005, R2 = 0.68. All four variables added statistically significantly to the prediction, p < 0.05. This finding shows that the responsibility, authority, self-awareness, and understanding factors are the main predictor that causes Generation Z to practice Tabayyun when they receive political information through social media. It is recommended that future studies can be conducted to identify other demographic factors that might influence Tabayyun practice.