SOCIAL MEDIA USERS’ ATTITUDE TOWARD MADRASSA COMMUNITY: A CRITICAL DISCOURSE ANALYSIS

Abstract

Social media has become an increasingly powerful tool for spreading (mis)information, shaping opinions, constructing identities, and much more. This study investigates the representation of madrassa students’ and teachers’ identities as constructed by social media users, employing a critical discourse analysis of selected content. The study takes an exploratory approach to examining user attitudes toward madrassas, their students, teachers, and affiliated religious scholars. To analyse the discourse, the study employs van Dijk’s (2000, 2003, 2006) socio-cognitive approach as its theoretical framework. Through purposive sampling, specific posts were selected based on criteria aligned with the research objectives. The findings indicate that social media users often project a generalized and negative portrayal of the madrassa community, where terms like “Molvi” carry pejorative undertones, demonstrating how word choices can reveal underlying ideologies. The analysis highlights a prevalent critical attitude towards madrassas and those associated with them, often due to their religious affiliations. The study advocates for the development and dissemination of a parallel discourse that fosters tolerance and promotes positive perceptions of all communities.