Title: In Conversation with Ustazah Hidayah and Ms Hannah Batrisyia: Digital Islam Advocacy in Singapore
Date: 14 August 2026

Synopsis

In light of the recently published study by the Centre for Research on Islamic and Malay Affairs (RIMA), “Perceptions of Singapore Muslim Youths on Online Islamic Content”, this episode sought to explore in-depth perspectives to online Islamic content in Singapore through the lens of a practitioner and a researcher.

The rise of digital tools, especially social media, has significantly reshaped how people engage with religion across the world. Singapore’s increased household internet penetration rate at 90.6% in 2024 (Singstat, 2024), would then mean that the social norms in which Muslims are engaging with when seeking religious guidance would also evolve. As online spaces become a natural extension of everyday spiritual practices, it is imperative to explore how faith is communicated and understood in today’s digital age.

Catch our fourth episode titled In Conversation with Ustazah Hidayah and Ms Hannah Batrisyia: Digital Islam Advocacy in Singapore on YouTube and Spotify!

Speakers

  1. Ustazah Hidayah Azman, Independent Content Creative
  2. Ms Hannah Batrisyia, Researcher, Digital Religion

Key Takeaways

  1. Short-form videos function merely as initial entry points for religious inquiries. Relying exclusively on quick reels to address complex spiritual questions creates challenges regarding source credibility and depth of understanding. Audiences must eventually transition from digital snippets to books, structured classes, and direct conversations with qualified teachers.
  2. Social media algorithms curate feeds based on assumed user interests, which gradually restricts the range of content encountered. Consumers must apply rigorous critical thinking to evaluate whether the information presented is objectively true or engineered for emotional impact.
  3. Definitions of religious authority have become increasingly subjective. Depending on the audience, credibility is measured either through formal credentials like the Asatizah Recognition Scheme (ARS) or through sheer digital popularity and follower counts. Consequently, individuals carry the responsibility to evaluate the legitimacy of online creators rather than following them blindly.
  4. Frequent reliance on artificial intelligence for immediate answers is reshaping spiritual habits. This makes individuals less patient with divine timing. Furthermore, seeking validation from chatbots threatens to replace the internal need for spiritual validation and genuine human connection.

Read more in the the full RIMA brief here: Digital Islam Advocacy in Singapore (Brief)

Watch the video of the podcast here: Digital Islam Advocacy in Singapore (YouTube)

Listen to the audio of the podcast here: Digital Islam Advocacy in Singapore (Spotify)

Photo by Ales Nesetril on Unsplash