The Role of Religion in Young Muslims’ and Christians’ Self-presentation on Social Media

Abstract

This article examines how young Muslims and Christians with ethnic minority backgrounds in Oslo reflect on their use of social media as a way to present themselves and their religiosity. The study draws upon Arlie Hochschild’s concepts of feeling rules and emotional labour and Erving Goffman’s typology of frontstage and backstage behaviour to analyse how young Muslims and Christian informants present themselves on social media. For minority groups, these strategies can be used to negotiate religion and create a different image. This study shows that both Christian and Muslim youth with minority backgrounds use different strategies to present their religiosity. Even though all the informants want to portray themselves as religious, they carefully consider what type of religious content they share to avoid social exclusion, conflict and religious discussions.

Looking Ahead

“…Thirty years ago, the birth of a child to immigrant parents would be announced to relatives in the homeland with a letter and photograph or an expensive telephone call; nowadays grandparents can initiate online relations with a grandchild immediately after delivery. As group attachment and socialisation are important factors in the development of religion -as is the transition from being childless to having children -researchers need to investigate whether social media has a role for migrants in upholding, developing and changing religion (e.g., Ferguson et al, 2021;Trysnes & Synnes, 2022).…”

Digital Islam and Muslim Millennials: How Social Media Influencers Reimagine Religious Authority and Islamic Practices

“…The marketization of religion marks a change in the structures and dynamics of technocapitalism that celebrates expression of choice, subjectivities, individualities, and identities. This synergy between technology and theology across much of the religious spectrum has become particularly notable in the religious engagements and practices of the generation of young adult Muslims (Trysnes and Synnes 2021).…”

Diskursus Artis Menjadi Kaum Agamis Dalam Instagram

“…Sejauh ini, studi-studi yang membahas postingan konten keagamaan dalam media sosial Instagram, hanya dilakukan dalam beberapa aspek, seperti; Peran agama dalam presentasi diri pemuda dalam media sosial Instagram (Trysnes and Synnes, 2022), Pembelajaran agama dalam media sosial Instagram bagi generasi Z (Aisa, Zamrotul and Sari, 2021), dan Berita hoax agama dalam media sosial Instagram (Kanozia and Arya, 2021). Studi lainnya yang membahas postingan konten keagamaan dalam media sosial, juga tidak sedikit menitikberatkan pada beberapa aspek, yaitu; Mediatisasi agama dalam media sosial, Konstruksi identitas agama dalam media sosial, dan Ekstrimis agama dalam media sosial, Gerakan kemodernan (Al-Zaman, 2022;Miller, 2022;Qudsy and Muzakky, 2021).…”