The Role of Social Media and Digital Platforms in the Formation of Religious Identity Among Young People in Albania
The Role of Social Media and Digital Platforms in the Formation of Religious Identity Among Young People in Albania

Summary/Abstract: This article examines the relationship between religion and digital identity among young Albanian Muslims. The aim of the paper is to understand how social media and digital platforms influence the formation and affirmation of religious identity of Albanians online. Methodologically, the study combines social media monitoring (including Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube) of online mosque accounts, several religious influencers, and their followers, with a survey of 100 young people aged 15-35. Existing literature, such as Hoover, Clark, Campbell, Lövheim and Tsuria, describe this phenomenon as „digital religion,” emphasizing the ways in which online spaces foster spiritual exploration, community belonging, and the negotiation of religious identity. The findings show that digital platforms offer young people access to diverse religious content, peer support, and participation in virtual faith communities, helping strengthen religious commitment and build a conscious religious identity. However, the modest sample used here provides only an initial indication of current trends. Future research should expand this area with surveys, interviews, and comparative studies at the regional (Balkan) level. This study makes an original contribution to the Albanian context, providing the first empirical analysis of how young Muslims interact with their faith in the digital age.

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