In e na ional Jou nal o Social Science and Human Resea ch
ISSN (p in ): 2644-0679, ISSN (online): 2644-0695
Volume 08 Issue 10 Oc obe 2025
DOI: 10.47191/ijssh / 8-i10-37, Impac ac o - 8.007
Page No: 7850-7854
IJSSHR, Volume 08 Issue 10 Oc obe 2025 www.ijssh .in Page 7850
Communica ion Technology in Building he Pa icipa ion o Pu woke o
You h in Social and Religious Ac i i ies
Didik Suwa no1, Sulkhan Chakim2, Muskinul Fuad3
1,2,3S a e Islamic Uni e si y P o . K.H. Sai uddin Zuh i Pu woke o, Indonesia
ABSTRACT: The de elopmen o communica ion echnology has b ough signi ican changes o he pa e n o you h
pa icipa ion, including in Pu woke o, whe e social media and ins an messaging applica ions a e he main means o suppo ing
social and eligious ac i i ies. This s udy aims o unde s and how communica ion echnology is used by Pu woke o adolescen s in
building socio- eligious pa icipa ion, as well as he d i ing and inhibi ing ac o s hey ace. Using a quali a i e app oach o case
s udies, da a was collec ed h ough in-dep h in e iews, pa icipa o y obse a ions, and digi al documen a ion analysis. The esul s
show ha social media acili a es he apid dissemina ion o in o ma ion, coo dina ion, and mobiliza ion o pa icipa ion and
expands he each o ac i i ies. Adolescen s a e no only ecipien s o in o ma ion, bu also con en p oduce s and o ganize s o
ac i i ies, acco ding o he pe spec i e o mass communica ion heo y and uses and g a i ica ions. This phenomenon is in line wi h
he heo y o digi al ci ic pa icipa ion ha emphasizes he ole o social media as a new public space o adolescen s. Howe e ,
his s udy also ound challenges in he o m o misin o ma ion, in o ma ion sa u a ion, and digi al li e acy inequali y. The e o e,
s eng hening digi al li e acy and communica ion e hics is an impo an aspec so ha communica ion echnology can unc ion
op imally in building adolescen s' social and eligious pa icipa ion in a posi i e and sus ainable manne .
KEYWORDS: Communica ion Technology, You h Pa icipa ion, Social Media, Social Ac i i ies, Religious
I.
INTRODUCTION
The de elopmen o communica ion echnology in he las wo decades has changed he ace o social in e ac ion o he younge
gene a ion in Indonesia, including you h communi ies in medium-sized ci ies such as Pu woke o. Easie access o he in e ne and
social media pla o ms has made digi al communica ion an in eg al pa o adolescen li e; daily ac i i ies, lea ning, and
in ol emen in social and eligious ac i i ies a e now aking place o a leas media ed by communica ion echnology
(Pu boningsih e al., 2023). This change is no only echnical om ace- o- ace bu also b ings abou a subs an ial ans o ma ion
in pa e ns o pa icipa ion: he way adolescen s ecognize, mobilize, and shape meaning o e social ac i i ies and eligious i uals.
This ans o ma ion p esen s signi ican oppo uni ies o expand he each o pa icipa ion as well as new challenges ela ed o he
quali y o pa icipa ion and digi al li e acy.
A he heo e ical le el, unde s anding adolescen pa icipa ion h ough he lens o communica ion echnology needs o
combine mass communica ion heo y, uses and g a i ica ions heo y, and digi al ci ic pa icipa ion heo y. Social media and
ins an messaging apps p o ide channels ha allow eens o become no only consume s o in o ma ion, bu also con en
p oduce s, e en o ganize s, and social ne wo k acili a o s who suppo collec i e ac ion. This phenomenon can be seen om he
p ac ice o young people who o m g oups o aise aid, o ganize social se ices, o conduc eligious eci a ion and s udy online,
ac i i ies ha p e iously equi ed a o mal ins i u ional s uc u e can now be d i en by hei own ne wo ks o eenage s
(Wahyuning oem & Si ai , 2024). Thus, communica ion echnology se es a dual unc ion: as a echnical in as uc u e and as a
social a ena in which collec i e iden i ies and collec i e ac ions a e o med.
Howe e , hese oppo uni ies do no necessa ily gua an ee meaning ul pa icipa ion. Resea ch on adolescen digi al
li e acy shows a a ia ion in c i ical skills in using echnology: some adolescen s a e able o u ilize digi al pla o ms o o ganize
social ac i i ies and deepen eligious unde s anding, while o he s a e ulne able o misleading in o ma ion o supe icial eligious
p ac ices due o a lack o e i ica ion skills and media li e acy (Se iadi e al., 2023). In he con ex o Pu woke o, whe e mobile
in e ne access is ela i ely good bu o mal digi al li e acy p og ams may no be e enly dis ibu ed, his sugges s he need o
in e en ions ha go beyond he me e p o ision o access, namely s eng hening adolescen s' capaci y o assess sou ces, mode a e
discussions, and de elop inclusi e and e hical na a i es o ac i i ies.
The social dimension o you h pa icipa ion is also changing echnology sho ens he dis ance be ween ac o s and
acili a es collabo a ion ac oss schools, Islamic boa ding schools, and you h o ganiza ions. Pla o ms such as Ins ag am,
Communica ion Technology in Building he Pa icipa ion o Pu woke o You h in Social and Religious Ac i i ies
IJSSHR, Volume 08 Issue 10 Oc obe 2025 www.ijssh .in Page 7851
Wha sApp, and YouTube se e as new public spaces whe e ac i i y announcemen s, social ac ion documen a ion, and he
dissemina ion o eligious ma e ials can be quickly accessed by you h ne wo ks. This speed and isibili y p o ide p ac ical
bene i s (e.g., as e ec ui men o olun ee s), bu a he same ime pu p essu e on he quali y o con en and ac ion in en ions
whe he ac i i ies a e ca ied ou o subs an ial easons o simply o he sake o digi al "engagemen " (Pu boningsih e al., 2023).
The e o e, e alua ion o he e ec i eness o adolescen pa icipa ion mus conside bo h aspec s: quan i y (how much is in ol ed)
and quali y (how meaning ul he con ibu ion is o he communi y).
The eligious con ex adds i s own complexi y. In Indonesia, digi al eligious p ac ices including online eci a ion, da'wah
h ough sho ideo con en , and eligious discussion o ums on social media ha e g own apidly, especially a e he pandemic.
Teenage s as a digi ally li e a e gene a ion ac i ely pa icipa e in and p oduce eligious con en ; hey also o m i ual
communi ies ha sha e eligious p ac ices and spi i ual e lec ion (Ok a iani, 2024). The p ocess o lea ning eligion h ough
digi al media can en ich insigh s i he sou ces a e c edible, bu a he same ime i opens up gaps o agmen ed in e p e a ions
due o he loss o adi ional au ho i y and he il e ing o communi ies ha a e common in ace- o- ace o ums. Fo Pu woke o
adolescen s, he in eg a ion o echnology in eligious p ac ices has he po en ial o expand access o non- o mal eligious
educa ion and s eng hen social solida i y ne wo ks, as long as i is accompanied by adequa e li e acy.
The link be ween social and eligious pa icipa ion is also p ominen : many social ini ia i es a e d i en by young
eligious o ganiza ions, such as mosque-based social se ices, campus blood dona ion p og ams d i en by eligious o ganiza ion
adminis a o s, o solida i y mo emen s in imes o disas e . Communica ion echnology acili a es he coo dina ion and
documen a ion o hese ac i i ies, encou ages anspa ency, acili a es und aising, and inc eases accoun abili y h ough digi al
epo ing so ha adolescen pa icipa ion becomes mo e isible and measu able (Wahyuning oem & Si ai , 2024). Howe e ,
digi al mechanisms can also accele a e he sp ead o sensa ional con en ha shi s he ocus o ac ion om a social goal o an
image o an indi idual o g oup; The e o e, conce n o digi al e hics and ac ion goals is c ucial.
The local cul u al aspec s o Pu woke o in luence how echnology is adop ed by eenage s. Medium-sized ci ies like
Pu woke o ha e unique social dynamics: p oximi y be ween esiden s ends o be high, bu access o digi al capaci y building
p og ams may no be equal ac oss he egion. This c ea es a hyb id pa e n: some eens a e ac i e on na ional/global digi al
pla o ms, while o he s ely mo e on local and ace- o- ace ne wo ks. Pa icipa o y s eng hening s a egies mus unde s and hese
di e ences—combining digi al aining wi h a communi y app oach ha alues local cul u e and s uc u e so ha digi al
ini ia i es a e no aliena ing bu empowe local you h ne wo ks (Se iadi e al., 2023).
Policies and he ole o s akeholde s a e impo an a iables. Local go e nmen s, schools, Islamic boa ding schools, and
you h o ganiza ions can acili a e syne gy be ween echnology and you h pa icipa ion h ough digi al li e acy p og ams,
assis ance in he heal hy use o social media, and collabo a ion pla o ms o social and eligious ac i i ies. Such p og ams need o
be designed pa icipa o y, in ol ing adolescen s as designe s a he han jus bene icia ies, so ha he esul ing solu ions a e
ele an o hei needs and s yles. The expe ience o empowe men p og ams in se e al a eas shows ha when adolescen s a e
in ol ed in communica ion design, he le el o owne ship and sus ainabili y o pa icipa ion inc eases signi ican ly (Se iadi e al.,
2023; Wahidah, 2022).
The challenge ha should no be igno ed is he isk o alse in o ma ion, pola iza ion, and he misuse o digi al pla o ms
o sp ead ha e speech o ex eme eligious in e p e a ions. Adolescen s as ac i e use s o social media a e o en ulne able a ge s
o misin o ma ion; Wi hou e i ica ion skills, hey can engage in na a i es ha unde mine social cohesion. The e o e, digi al
li e acy is no only a echnical skill, bu also communica ion e hics and c i ical assessmen o he abili y o dis inguish sou ces,
unde s and he con ex o messages, and weigh he social impac o in o ma ion dissemina ion (Wahidah, 2022). In Pu woke o,
his kind o p e en ion e o needs o be combined wi h a space o in e gene a ional dialogue so ha local and eligious alues
emain a balance.
To ealize he posi i e po en ial o communica ion echnology in building you h pa icipa ion, his s udy needs o iden i y
he d i e s and inhibi o s a he indi idual, communi y, and policy le els. A he indi idual le el: echnical abili y, mo i a ion, and
a ailabili y o ime. A he communi y le el: amily suppo , he ole o eligious leade s, and ne wo ks o you h o ganiza ions. A
he policy le el: digi al in as uc u e, li e acy p og ams, and social media egula ion. This combina ion o analysis will help
design holis ic in e en ions, such as digi al li e acy aining p og ams ha a e in eg a ed in o he ac i i ies o you h o ganiza ions
and Islamic boa ding schools, o local pla o ms ha connec adolescen socio- eligious ini ia i es wi h u ban esou ces
(Pu boningsih e al., 2023; Se iadi e al., 2023). The de elopmen o communica ion echnology opens up g ea oppo uni ies o
en ich he social and eligious pa icipa ion o adolescen s in Pu woke o p o ided ha he e is se ious a en ion o s eng hening
digi al li e acy, communica ion e hics, and communi y-based p og am design. When adolescen s a e empowe ed no only as use s
bu also as communica ion designe s, echnology can be a ool o social ans o ma ion ha s eng hens solida i y, expands access
o eligious educa ion, and inc eases collec i e capaci y o ac o he common good. This s udy seeks o examine in dep h how
communica ion echnology a ec s he pa icipa ion pa e ns o Pu woke o adolescen s, so ha he esul ing policy
ecommenda ions and p ac ices can be ele an , sa e, and empowe ing.
Communica ion Technology in Building he Pa icipa ion o Pu woke o You h in Social and Religious Ac i i ies
IJSSHR, Volume 08 Issue 10 Oc obe 2025 www.ijssh .in Page 7852
II.
METHOD
This esea ch uses a quali a i e app oach wi h he aim o unde s anding in dep h how communica ion echnology plays a ole in
building he pa icipa ion o Pu woke o adolescen s in social and eligious ac i i ies. The quali a i e app oach was chosen
because i allows esea che s o explo e he expe iences, pe cep ions, and meanings buil by adolescen s in hei pa icipa o y
ac i i ies. Quali a i ely, esea che s can unco e social and eligious dynamics ha canno be educed o numbe s, bu mus be
unde s ood h ough na a i es, in e ac ions, and he con ex o daily li e (C eswell & Po h, 2020).
The ype o esea ch used is a case s udy. Pu woke o was chosen as he esea ch loca ion because i has he
cha ac e is ics o a medium-sized ci y wi h a la ge adolescen popula ion and di e se socio- eligious dynamics. Th ough case
s udies, esea che s can desc ibe he phenomenon in de ail and con ex ually, as well as see he ela ionship be ween he use o
communica ion echnology and adolescen pa icipa ion pa e ns. The case s udies in his s udy a e no in ended o be b oad
gene aliza ions, bu a he o p o ide an in-dep h unde s anding o local p ac ices ha can be he basis o heo e ical and policy
de elopmen (Yin, 2021).
Da a collec ion echniques we e ca ied ou h ough in-dep h in e iews, pa icipa o y obse a ions, and documen a ion.
In e iews we e conduc ed wi h adolescen s who we e ac i e in social and eligious ac i i ies, bo h o line and online.
Obse a ion is used o see i s hand he in e ac ion pa e ns o adolescen s in u ilizing communica ion echnology, such as he use
o social media o o ganize ac i i ies o dissemina e eligious in o ma ion. Documen a ion in he o m o social media uploads,
digi al pamphle s, and eco dings o ac i i ies will also be analyzed o en ich he da a. The combina ion o hese h ee echniques
allows esea che s o ob ain a comp ehensi e pic u e o he phenomenon being s udied (Sugiyono, 2022).
Da a analysis is ca ied ou h ough he s ages o da a educ ion, da a p esen a ion, and d awing conclusions. A he
educ ion s age, da a om in e iews, obse a ions, and documen a ion we e so ed acco ding o esea ch hemes, such as he
o m o pa icipa ion, mo i a ion, he ole o echnology, and he challenges aced by adolescen s. The p esen a ion s age is ca ied
ou in he o m o a desc ip i e na a i e ha connec s ield indings wi h a heo e ical amewo k. Meanwhile, conclusions we e
d awn e lexi ely by paying a en ion o he ela ionship be ween da a and e e ing o he pu pose o he esea ch o explain he
ole o communica ion echnology in building he pa icipa ion o Pu woke o adolescen s in social and eligious ac i i ies
(C eswell & Po h, 2020; Sco , 2022).
To main ain he alidi y o he da a, his s udy uses sou ce and me hod iangula ion echniques. Da a om in e iews
will be compa ed wi h obse a ion and documen a ion esul s, so ha s onge alidi y o indings is ob ained. In addi ion, he
esea che also conduc ed a membe check by asking pa icipan s o econ i m he esul s o he in e iew so ha he in e p e a ion
was in acco dance wi h hei o iginal expe ience. Wi h his app oach, he esea ch is expec ed o be able o make an academic and
p ac ical con ibu ion in unde s anding he ole o communica ion echnology o adolescen s' pa icipa ion in social and eligious
ac i i ies.
III.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
This esea ch ocuses on how communica ion echnology is used by Pu woke o adolescen s in building pa icipa ion in social and
eligious ac i i ies. The esul s o he s udy show ha social media, ins an messaging applica ions, and o he digi al pla o ms a e
he main ins umen s in o ganizing ac i i ies, dissemina ing in o ma ion, and expanding adolescen in ol emen in public spaces.
Based on ield da a, adolescen s no only use communica ion echnology as a means o en e ainmen , bu also as a medium o
ac i e pa icipa ion o suppo social solida i y and s eng hen hei eligious iden i y.
One o he pa icipan s, AR (18 yea s old), who is ac i e in mosque you h ac i i ies, said: "I he e is a eci a ion o social
se ice ac i i y, we usually immedia ely make a digi al lye , which con inues o be dis ibu ed h ough Wha sApp and Ins ag am.
F om he e, iends came o know, e en some imes hose who didn' pa icipa e a i s came because hey saw i on social media."
This s a emen shows ha communica ion echnology has se ed as a medium o mass communica ion ha eaches a wide
audience, while encou aging pa icipa ion mobiliza ion.
The esul s o he obse a ion also show ha adolescen s a e mo e esponsi e o in o ma ion ha is packaged isually and
a ac i ely. Fo example, ac i i y in i a ions c ea ed wi h simple g aphic design h ough he Can a app a e mo e likely o be
dis ibu ed and esponded o by pee s. This is in line wi h he heo y o mass communica ion which s a es ha he media has he
powe o in luence in sp eading messages and shaping public opinion (McQuail, 2010). Teenage s no only become ecipien s o
messages, bu also con en p oduce s who ac i ely dis ibu e in o ma ion.
Wi hin he amewo k o he heo y o uses and g a i ica ions, he mo i a ion o he use o communica ion echnology by
Pu woke o adolescen s is di ided in o se e al aspec s: i s , o ob ain in o ma ion abou social and eligious ac i i ies; second, o
es ablish social in e ac ion wi h he communi y; and hi d, o s eng hen eligious iden i y and sel -exis ence in he digi al space.
Ano he pa icipan , NF (20 yea s old), said: "I eel mo e con iden i I can pos social ac i i ies on Ins ag am, o example when
pa icipa ing in akjil o communi y se ice. I makes o he iends also en husias ic because hey see i s hand ha we eally
pa icipa e in posi i e ac i i ies." This s a emen e lec s ha sa is ac ion is ob ained no only in he o m o en e ainmen , bu
also social ecogni ion and a sense o meaning.
Communica ion Technology in Building he Pa icipa ion o Pu woke o You h in Social and Religious Ac i i ies
IJSSHR, Volume 08 Issue 10 Oc obe 2025 www.ijssh .in Page 7853
In addi ion, he digi al pa icipa ion ca ied ou by Pu woke o eenage s is closely ela ed o he heo y o digi al ci ic
pa icipa ion. Teenage s use social media as an al e na i e space o channel ideas, in i e o he s o join, and discuss social and
eligious issues. Obse a ions show ha he Wha sApp and Teleg am g oups o he mosque you h communi y a e o en an a ena
o discussion abou social ac i i ies, anging om und aising o disas e ic ims, o planning s udy e en s. As exp essed by
pa icipan RA (19 yea s old): "I he e is a disas e , o example a lood, we usually make dona ions h ough g oups. F om he e
we can collec unds and con inue o epo h ough Ins ag am s o ies so ha i is anspa en . So, people know wha he money is
used o ."
This phenomenon indica es ha communica ion echnology is no only an in o ma ion ool, bu also an ins umen o
accoun abili y and anspa ency o social pa icipa ion. In he amewo k o digi al ci ic pa icipa ion heo y, wha Pu woke o do
can be unde s ood as a o m o expanding public space whe e social- eligious ac i i ies a e no longe limi ed o physical space bu
a e also p esen in digi al space.
The esul s o he in e iews also show ha he speed and lexibili y o communica ion echnology a e impo an ac o s
ha d i e pa icipa ion. Fo example, one o he pa icipan s, IS (22 yea s old), s a ed: "In he pas , i he e was an ac i i y, we had
o mee i s , wai o e e yone o ga he . Now all you ha e o do is c ea e an online g oup, e e yone can immedia ely gi e hei
opinions. So, i 's as e and easie o coo dina e." This s a emen shows ha communica ion echnology acili a es collec i e
pa icipa ion h ough ease o coo dina ion and collabo a ion.
Howe e , his s udy also ound challenges in he use o communica ion echnology. Some eenage s men ioned ha he e
was sa u a ion due o oo much in o ma ion, as well as obs acles ela ed o hoaxes o misin o ma ion. DN pa icipan (18 yea s
old) said: "Some imes he e is in o ma ion ha is no clea om he sou ce, o example abou eligious ac i i ies. I we don'
check i s , we can misunde s and." This shows ha digi al li e acy is an impo an aspec so ha pa icipa ion buil h ough
communica ion echnology emains p oduc i e and does no cause disin o ma ion.
In addi ion, obse a ions show ha he e is an imbalance in pa icipa ion among adolescen s. Teens who a e mo e ac i e
on social media end o ha e g ea e in luence in o ganizing ac i i ies, while eens who a e less digi ally li e a e a e mo e likely o
be passi e ollowe s. This phenomenon is in line wi h he indings in he heo y o uses and g a i ica ions ha he choice o media
is highly dependen on he needs and abili y o indi iduals o use i . Thus, he use o communica ion echnology is no always
e enly dis ibu ed, bu is in luenced by li e acy, access, and pe sonal mo i a ion ac o s.
O e all, he esul s o his s udy show ha communica ion echnology has become an impo an ins umen in building
he pa icipa ion o Pu woke o adolescen s. Th ough social media and digi al pla o ms, adolescen s can dissemina e in o ma ion,
s eng hen social in e ac ions, a i m eligious iden i y, and con ibu e o social ac i i ies mo e b oadly. Howe e , his
pa icipa ion also equi es good digi al li e acy so ha he use o echnology emains posi i e, anspa en , and inclusi e.
CONCLUSION
The esul s o his s udy show ha communica ion echnology plays a cen al ole in building he pa icipa ion o Pu woke o
you h in social and eligious ac i i ies. Th ough social media, ins an messaging apps, and o he digi al pla o ms, eens a e able o
o ganize ac i i ies as e , dissemina e in o ma ion widely, and encou age g ea e engagemen . These indings a e in line wi h mass
communica ion heo y ha emphasizes he ole o he media in in luencing public opinion and shaping pa icipa ion pa e ns.
F om he pe spec i e o uses and g a i ica ions heo y, he use o communica ion echnology by adolescen s is no only aimed a
ob aining en e ainmen , bu also o mee he needs o in o ma ion, social in e ac ion, and sel - ecogni ion. Pa icipa ion in social
and eligious ac i i ies gi es hem a sense o meaning while s eng hening hei pe sonal and g oup iden i y. This is clea om he
in e iew exce p s ha show he p ide o eenage s when sha ing posi i e ac i i ies in he digi al space.
Meanwhile, he heo y o digi al ci ic pa icipa ion helps explain how social media has become a new public space ha
allows adolescen s o channel ideas, in i e o he s o join, and ally social solida i y. Ac i i ies such as online dona ions,
und aising, o he publica ion o eligious s udies show ha adolescen pa icipa ion is no limi ed o physical space bu also
de elops in he digi al space wi h he p inciples o accoun abili y and anspa ency. Howe e , his s udy also con i ms ha he e
a e challenges in he o m o in o ma ion sa u a ion, po en ial hoaxes, and digi al li e acy inequali y among adolescen s.
The e o e, s eng hening digi al li e acy is an impo an aspec so ha communica ion echnology can eally be used op imally o
build posi i e social and eligious pa icipa ion. In o he wo ds, communica ion echnology no only unc ions as a means o
communica ion, bu also as a medium o empowe ing adolescen s in social and eligious li e in Pu woke o.
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A ibu ion – Non Comme cial 4.0 In e na ional (CC BY-NC 4.0)
(h ps://c ea i ecommons.o g/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which pe mi s emixing, adap ing and
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