The Interpretation of Islam on Social Media: Islamophobia and the West

Abstract

The media's role is to mold concepts and present one interpretation as fact. The media has a significant impact on how the public perceives each given issue that arises globally. Muslims and Islam have become the main conversation subjects on Western social media platforms. Globally, Muslims have been portrayed negatively by Western media. Twenty years after the fields of science and technology have advanced, the media appears to be a key factor in inciting Islamophobia among the general public. This article examines discussions on Facebook in Western nations regarding Islam, the Islamic faith, Islamophobia, or and Muslim beliefs. The study also examined how Muslims have been depicted on social media and how the West has affected public perception of Islam. The study found that the West denigrates Islam, the religion of Muslims, and that this leads to Islamophobia worldwide. Facebook postings about Muslim fanaticism, jihad, the hijab, mosques, Muslim men's beards, Muslim women's clothing, extremism, and terrorism are frequently emphasized.