Cancel Culture Against Religious Leaders on TikTok: A Netnographic Analysis from the Perspective of the Mediatization of Religion and Islamic Moral Education

Abstract

The cancel culture phenomenon against religious leaders on TikTok demonstrates a shift in how society assesses religious authority in the digital era, where visuals, short recordings, and algorithmic logic are more influential in determining public perception than the complete process of da'wah. The urgency of this research arose from the rise of controversial video clips ranging from the use of harsh diction, actions deemed inappropriate, to inconsistencies between advice and behavior which triggered moral condemnation and a wave of boycotts against certain religious leaders. This study aims to (1) identify the forms of behavior of religious leaders that trigger cancel culture, (2) describe the expression patterns of Indonesian netizens through stitches, duets, and comment sentiment, and (3) interpret these dynamics through Stig Hjarvard's Mediatization of Religion theory by placing Islamic morality as an ethical framework. The method used is netnography with a qualitative approach through observation of viral TikTok content, analysis of moral comments, and supporting literature related to digital da'wah and Islamic ethics. The results show that the wave of cancel culture is primarily triggered by violations of moral values such as impolite speech, unethical behavior, and sensational self-presentation. Netizens responded with open criticism, satire, and even calls for boycotts, amplified by TikTok's algorithm. This study concludes that religious authority in the digital space is increasingly tied to public perception, and that Islamic moral values remain a crucial standard for assessing the legitimacy of religious leaders in the social media era.