Initial model of social media islamic information credibility

Social media is a powerful tool in sharing information and ideas thus provide information instantly as compared to the traditional mainstream media. Islamic scholars are also extensively using social media to reach out to the younger Muslim generation, who are the heaviest users of social media. Problem arises when not every article or information shared on social media is credible or true. Some may be misinformed, purposely created to ignite conspiracy in spreading rumors or deliberately wanting to propagate and support sentiments. This is exceptionally dangerous for the younger generation who excessively rely on social media to look for information sources in order to find information that they require. Therefore, it is imperative to develop critical analysis in evaluating the credibility of sources published online. This study proposes to fill the gap in social media information credibility by investigating the credibility factors in the context of Islamic contents on social media. The impact of this study also aims to enlighten the society in having a more credible and authenticated source of information in clearing doubts and misinformation on Islam.