Ramadan Against the Culture of Social Media Scrolling: Time for Students to Rise as Muslim Creators with Purpose

Yogyakarta, Indonesia – Ramadan is not only a moment of spiritual self-restraint but also an opportunity to reflect on the digital habits of today’s younger generation. Amid the growing culture of endless social media scrolling, students at Universitas Nahdlatul Ulama Yogyakarta (UNU Jogja) are encouraged to shift from being passive content consumers to becoming productive creators whose work carries spiritual value.

Dr. Yana Hedriyana, a lecturer from the Informatics Department at UNU Jogja, observed that many students are trapped in directionless browsing on social media. Yet, according to him, the digital space holds both economic opportunities and meaningful social impact.

“Instead of merely scrolling, students need guidance to create something valuable. Digital content can generate income and even become an act of worship if managed with the right intention,” he explained.

He added that a lack of knowledge about content monetization often leaves students as spectators rather than innovators. With proper mentorship, digital activities can be directed toward generating income while contributing to social causes, such as selling digital products, publishing prayer books, or launching creative charity campaigns.

Instilling Religious Values in Digital Content

However, productivity in the digital sphere, Yana emphasized, must not be detached from ethical and spiritual values. Students are encouraged to uphold honesty in every product they promote, avoiding plagiarism or unauthorized modifications of others’ work.

“Honesty is the foundation. Whatever is being sold must be clear in its purpose and benefits. Profit should never come at the expense of ethics,” he stressed.

He also highlighted the importance of guarding one’s speech—even in digital spaces. Content should not contain hoaxes, hate speech, or provocative narratives that harm others.

“The discipline of guarding our words during fasting should also apply on social media. Our content must not spread hatred or resentment,” he added.

Balancing Spiritual Devotion and Productivity

Yana underscored the importance of balancing ritual worship and social responsibility. Ramadan is a time to strengthen prayers, read the Qur’an, and engage in self-reflection, while also contributing positively to society.

He referred to the value of patience as taught in Surah Al-Baqarah (2:153), which encourages believers to seek help through patience and prayer. Success, he noted, requires perseverance and consistency (istiqamah). When content does not immediately succeed, it should not lead to despair but rather to evaluation and improvement.

“If it doesn’t work yet, don’t stop. Reflect first—perhaps something needs to be improved. Keep refining and enhancing the quality,” he advised.

Amid managing digital ventures and creating content, students are reminded not to neglect ritual worship. True balance lies in ensuring that productivity does not erode spirituality.

Ramadan as a Meaningful Digital Turning Point

For Yana, Ramadan is an opportunity to reaffirm intention and commitment, ensuring that digital activities are not driven solely by profit but also by the pursuit of blessings.

In an era where algorithms constantly compete for attention, UNU Jogja students are challenged to become conscious actors rather than passive objects of the system. Moving from mindless scrolling to honest, productive, and spiritually grounded content creation—this is the digital transformation hoped to emerge during the holy month. [Latifah]