The Impact of Social Media Algorithms on Religious Belief Formation and Community Engagement

Ogugbuaja; Ephraim Makuochukwu; Akpan; Idongesit Ededet

doi:10.56201/jhsp.vol.12.no1.2026.pg137.147

📄 Download Paper

The Impact of Social Media Algorithms on Religious Belief Formation and Community Engagement

Ogugbuaja, Ephraim Makuochukwu, Akpan, Idongesit Ededet

Abstract

This study explores how social media algorithms influence the growth of religious beliefs and community involvement in today's digital landscape. As platforms like Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok increasingly suggest religious content through their algorithms, the way people make meaning of their faith is shaped not only by traditional religious institutions or personal decisions but also by data-driven personalization. Combining insights from social learning theory and mediated religion theory, the research takes an interdisciplinary approach, blending ideas from computer science and religious studies to examine both individual beliefs and collective religious interactions online. Data gathered from surveys of 400 active social media users and analysis of religious posts recommended by algorithms across major platforms reveal that these algorithms significantly affect exposure to religious ideas, reinforcing familiar themes and beliefs through repeated visibility. Many users reported that amplified algorithmic content influences their understanding of religious teachings and of what they consider credible beliefs. The findings also suggest that social media algorithms encourage religious community involvement by fostering virtual connections, promoting discussions, and strengthening a sense of belonging that complements offline religious practices. Additionally, the study notes a shift in religious authority, where metrics like likes, shares, and followers increasingly influence trust and credibility, sometimes more than traditional institutional or doctrinal authority. Despite being aware of algorithmic control, users still rely heavily on social media for religious learning, highlighting that awareness alone doesn’t fully mitigate algorithmic influence. Overall, the research indicates that while algorithms open new doors for religious engagement and community building, they also pose ethical and epistemological questions about authority, diversity, and t

Keywords

Social media algorithmsReligious belief formationDigital religionAlgorithmic curationOnline religious communitiesReligious authorityCommunity engagement P-ISSN 2695 2416

References

Abokhodair, N., Elmadany, A. & Magdy, W. (2020). Holy Tweets: Exploring the Sharing of the Quran on Twitter. Proceedings of the ACM Human Computer Interaction, 4(159), pg. 1-32, https://doi.org/10.1145/3415230 Ahmmad, M., Shahzad, K., Iqbal, A., & Latif, M. (2025). Trap of Social Media Algorithms: A Systematic Review of Research on Filter Bubbles, Echo Chambers, and Their Impact on Youth. Societies, 15(11), 301. https://doi.org/10.3390/soc15110301 Bandura, A. (1977). Social learning theory. New Jersey (NJ): Prentice Hall. Brady, W., & The Conversation US. (2023). Social media algorithms warp how people learn from each other. Scientific American. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/social-media-algorithms-warp-how- people-learn-from-each-other/?utm_source=chatgpt.com (Accessed on 15th December, 2025) Brown, E. (2025). Recommended Selves: Authenticity and Algorithmic Filtering. Journal of the American Philosophical Association, 1–20. doi:10.1017/apa.2025.10009 Campbell, H. A. (2012). Digital religion: Understanding religious practice in digital media. New York, NY: Routledge. Cormen, T.H., Leiserson, C.E., Rivest, R.L. and Stein, C. (2009) Introduction to Algorithms. The MIT Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts. Egunjobi, J. P. (2025). The Misuse of AI-Generated Content in Academic and Religious Settings. International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation , XII(XV), pg 871-879. DOI: https://doi.org/10.51244/IJRSI.2025.121500077P Haken, M. (2025). Christfluencer: a social figure of new “visibility”. Journal of Human Studies, 1(1), pg. 1-21. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10746-025-09808-y Hastuti H, Maulana HF, Lawelai H & Suherman A (2025). Algorithmic influence and media legitimacy: a systematic review of social media’s impact on news production. Frontiers in Communication. Pg. 1-22. doi: 10.3389/fcomm.2025.1667471 Jablonska, M. R. (2022). Online Social Behaviours in the Context of Religiosity: A Neural- Networks-Supported Approach to Theists and Atheists. Religions, 13(11), 1021. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel13111021 Megwas, N. U., Ihechu, P. I., Benson-Eluwa, V., & Osuagwu, G. A. (2025). Digital Christianity: Evaluating exposure, knowledge, and use of faith-based social media handles by Christians in Southeast Nigeria. International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation . XII(VI), DOI: https://doi.org/10.51244/IJRSI.2025.12060095 Missier, C. A. (2025). A Qualitative Study of Digital Religious Influence: Perspectives from Christian, Hindu, and Muslim Gen Y and Gen Z in Mumbai, India. Religions, 16(1), 73. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16010073 National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. (2019). How social media work. In Social Media and Adolescent Health: A National Survey of Parents and Teens. National Academies Press. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538348/ Williams, M., (2025), Social media democracy: How algorithms shape public discourse and marginalize voices. Journal of Media and Rights 3(1), pg. 1 – 11. Doi: https://doi.org/10.4102/jmr.v3i1.20

The Impact of Social Media Algorithms on Religious Belief Formation and Community Engagement

Abstract

Keywords

References

More Articles from JOURNAL OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL POLICY