Icon: Islamic Communication and Contemporary Media Studies

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Achmad Faesol Achmad Faesol — 2025-10-21

This study aims to analyze the role of humor in religious communication within the Login podcast, particularly in discussions addressing sensitive interfaith issues. In this context, humor is viewed not merely as entertainment but as a communication strategy capable of easing tension, creating spaces for dialogue, and fostering a sense of togetherness. The research employs a descriptive qualitative approach using Roland Barthes’ semiotic analysis theory to examine the discourse in episode thirty. The findings reveal that humor in the Login podcast is applied in a measured and contextual manner, effectively lightening the atmosphere, serving as an educational medium, dismantling stereotypes, promoting equality, and encouraging audiences to think more critically without undermining the sacred values of religion. Such use of humor proves effective in capturing the attention of younger generations and creating a more fluid and dialogical digital public sphere. Humor as an approach in religious communication in the digital era exemplifies how religion, media, and humor can synergize to build a peaceful and enlightening narrative of religiosity.

Scrolling for Faith: The Influence of TikTok on Empathy and Islamic Identity Formation

Fadya Az-Zahra — 2025-10-10

This study explores the phenomenon of Scrolling for Faith, where TikTok’s audiovisual format allows short videos to evoke empathy, spiritual reflection, and shifts in religious identity among young Muslim users. Using a qualitative phenomenological approach through interviews and observations, the research identifies three main findings. First, TikTok functions as an emotional and spiritual medium that can trigger religious contemplation through immersive content. Second, the platform serves as a space for identity negotiation, where users express and reshape their Islamic identity both online and offline. Third, TikTok fosters a sense of community and learning, as users feel supported by the Muslim TikTok network and motivated to improve their worship practices and daily habits, while also recognizing the importance of critical awareness to avoid misinformation. The study concludes that TikTok, beyond being a platform of entertainment, plays a significant role in empathy development and the dynamic construction of Islamic identity in the digital era.