From socialization to self-socialization? Exploring the role of digital media in the religious lives of young adults in Ghana, Turkey, and Peru. Issue 2 (3rd April 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Moberg, Marcus; Sjö, Sofia; Golo, Ben-Willie Kwaku; Erdiş Gökçe, Habibe; Hart, Rafael Fernández; Cardenas, Sidney Castillo; Benyah, Francis; Jó, Mauricio Javier Villacrez
• Is Part Of: Religion. Volume 49:Issue 2(2019)
• Page Start: 240
• Page End: 261
• Publication Date: 2019-04-03
• Subjects: Religious socialization -- self-socialization -- media -- religion -- young adults -- emerging adulthood -- Ghana -- Tukey -- Peru; Religion -- Periodicals; Religions -- Periodicals; Theology -- Periodicals; Religion -- Périodiques; Théologie -- Périodiques; Religion; Religions; Theology; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 200.5
• DOI: 10.1080/0048721X.2019.1584353
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0048-721X

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Previous research has pointed to the central role of media for the current young adult generation when it comes to finding information about religion, exploring beliefs, and developing a religious identity. This article explores how young adult university students in three different contexts – Ghana, Turkey, and Peru – report using digital media for religious purposes. The article builds on previous research on the role of media in religious socialization and explores the usefulness of the notion of self-socialization in a transnational study. The studied contexts are all shown to differ when it comes to levels of self-reported religiosity and use of media for religious purposes. The article illustrates the independent use of digital media in all contexts and self-socialization taking place on a general level, but also highlights the continuous importance of traditional socialization agents, thus questioning simplistic understandings of the role of media in religious socialization.