From Clicks to Exclusivity

The growth of algorithm-driven social media has reshaped how Muslim youth in Indonesia access religious knowledge and form religious attitudes, raising concerns for religious moderation and social harmony in a plural society. This study examines the influence of social media algorithmic exposure on religious polarization among madrasah students and explores how this dynamic relates to authority, openness, and interfaith implications. Employing a mixed-methods sequential explanatory design, the quantitative phase surveyed 300 students from eight madrasahs (Madrasah Aliyah and Tsanawiyah) in East and North Jakarta selected through proportionate stratified random sampling, using a validated five-point Likert questionnaire (Cronbach's alpha = 0.86). The qualitative phase comprised in-depth interviews with twelve students and three Islamic Education teachers, which were analysed thematically and integrated with the survey results through a joint display. Simple linear regression showed a significant positive effect of algorithmic exposure on religious polarization (β = 0.559; R2 = 0.312; p

Islam · Likert scale · Media literacy · Moderation · Openness to experience · Plural · Religious education · Social media · Hate Speech and Cyberbullying Detection · Islamic Studies and Radicalism · Media, Religion, Digital Communication