New media and Islamic popular culture: Challenges in maintaining morals in communication

The question of morals in communication has become one of the most intensely discussed issues. In relation to this, the presence of various new media platforms has gradually shaped the way people communicate. Despite its numerous positive elements especially in facilitating users’ daily activities, new media is also associated with several negative elements including the acts of insulting, mocking, humiliating, as well as the spread of fake news. These misconducts have somehow formed an undesirable culture observed on new media, especially among teenagers, which consequently contributes further to the intense question of moral and ethical degradation associated with teenagers. Therefore, this qualitative study which utilizes a content analysis approach sets out to discover issues pertaining to new media, the Islamic popular culture, as well as the appropriate morals to be applied in new media communication to ensure a cordial relationship among all human beings.