META SOCIAL TECHNOLOGY AND RELIGION: A MEDIA RITUAL THEORY CRITICAL DISCOURSE

Abstract

This paper explores the proposition that Meta social media and technology functions as a ritual platform and concludes affirmatively. It identifies and critically evaluates ritual elements on Meta’s platform. Employing media ritual theory in the context of religion, it analyzes the Meta for Faith homepage. Consequently, the investigation delves into Meta's role in enhancing or diminishing the sacred rituals integral to religion, one of society's oldest cultural institutions. The discussion expands by considering the implications of Meta for Faith offerings in religious rituals. Thus, this study contributes to the ongoing discourse on the increasing social technology mediatization in the rapidly evolving digital media landscape. It provides a novel perspective on the power dynamics of social media platforms within the framework of media communication ritual theory and religion.