Islamic Digital Authority: The Shift of Indonesian Muslim Religious Authority in the Social Media Era

Abstract

Digital transformation has fundamentally changed the pattern of production, distribution, and consumption of religious knowledge in Indonesia. Religious authorities that were previously dominated by Islamic clerics, Islamic boarding schools, and organizations are now shifting towards new actors who gain legitimacy through social media. This study aims to analyze the shifting form of religious authority of Indonesian Muslims in the era of social media and its implications for people's religious practices. The research uses a qualitative method with a library research approach. Data was obtained from books, journal articles, research reports, and various literature that discusses religion and digital media. The analysis was carried out in a descriptive-analytical manner using Max Weber's theory of authority and the concept of digital religion from Heidi Campbell. The results of the study show that social media has given birth to the phenomenon of democratization of religious authority, where individuals without a formal religious education background can gain influence and legitimacy through digital popularity. This shift is marked by the emergence of celebrity ustaz, Muslim influencers, and digital da'wah platforms that have become new references for the public, especially the younger generation. On the one hand, this phenomenon expands access to Islamic knowledge and increases religious participation in the digital space. However, on the other hand, these shifts also give rise to the fragmentation of authority, the commodification of religion, and the dissemination of unverified religious information. This research confirms that religious authority in the digital age is no longer hierarchical, but rather fluid, decentralized, and heavily influenced by the logic of social media algorithms