ECHO CHAMBERS OF FAITH: AN ALGORITHMIC ANALYSIS OF RELIGIOUS POLARIZATION ON MUSLIM-MAJORITY SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS
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Algorithmic Polarization, Echo Chambers, Islamic Social Media
Abstract
The increasing role of digital platforms in shaping religious knowledge and social attitudes has raised critical concerns about the formation of echo chambers and ideological polarization within Muslim-majority online environments. Algorithmic content curation often amplifies confirmation bias, resulting in selective exposure to doctrinally homogeneous viewpoints. This phenomenon threatens the pluralistic tradition of Islamic discourse by reinforcing exclusivist interpretations and diminishing opportunities for inter-sectarian dialogue. Understanding how platform algorithms influence religious engagement is therefore essential for safeguarding social cohesion and epistemic diversity in Muslim digital public spheres. This study aims to investigate how recommendation systems on Muslim-majority social media platforms contribute to religious polarization through algorithm-driven echo chambers. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining quantitative network analysis of 15,000 posts and user interactions across three major platforms with qualitative discourse analysis of high-engagement content clusters. Machine learning classification was used to categorize posts based on theological stance and polarization score, enabling systematic evaluation of algorithmic amplification patterns. The findings reveal that algorithmic recommendations disproportionately promote content with strong in-group signaling—particularly doctrinal exclusivity, identity defense, and adversarial framing of other Muslim groups. Users exposed to such feeds demonstrate significantly reduced cross-sectarian engagement and increased rhetorical hostility. The study also identifies a correlation between reinforcement of ideological clusters and heightened emotional language, suggesting a feedback loop between algorithmic incentives and polarization dynamics. The research concludes that platform algorithms play a significant role in accelerating religious echo chambers and deteriorating intra-Ummah relations. The results underline the urgent need for ethical algorithm design and digital literacy interventions to promote inclusive and dialogical Islamic engagement online.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Azamat Nazarov, Johannes Muller, Anna Schneider
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