The Influence of Digital Literacy, Religious Commitment, and Civic Identity on Strategic Silence among Indonesian Muslim University Students

Aep Saepuloh; Dikdik Firman  Sidik

doi:10.54783/endlessjournal.v9i1.400

Authors

Aep Saepuloh UIN Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung, Indonesia
Dikdik Firman Sidik Universitas Persatuan Islam, Bandung, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54783/endlessjournal.v9i1.400

Keywords:

Strategic Silence, Digital Literacy, Religious Commitment, Civic Identity, Indonesian Muslim Students, SEM-PLS.

Abstract

This study examines the influence of digital literacy, religious commitment, and civic identity on strategic silence among Indonesian Muslim university students. Strategic silence is conceptualized as the intentional decision to refrain from, delay, or limit public expression in digital spaces despite having the capacity, opportunity, and sometimes the desire to speak. Using a quantitative explanatory design with a cross-sectional survey, data were collected from 342 Muslim students enrolled in public and Islamic universities in Indonesia through stratified proportional random sampling. Digital literacy, religious commitment, civic identity, and strategic silence were measured using adapted and newly developed scales with acceptable reliability and validity. Data were analysed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (SEM-PLS). The results show that digital literacy has a significant negative effect on strategic silence, religious commitment has a significant positive effect on strategic silence, and civic identity has a significant negative effect on strategic silence. Simultaneously, the three predictors explain 48% of the variance in strategic silence. Exploratory moderation analyses indicate that digital literacy does not significantly moderate the effects of religious commitment or civic identity on strategic silence. These findings suggest that strategic silence is a multidimensional phenomenon shaped by cognitive competence, religious values, and civic responsibility. The study contributes to digital religion, civic education, and digital communication scholarship by integrating three constructs that have previously been studied separately, and offers practical implications for universities, religious educators, and policymakers in promoting responsible digital participation, religious moderation, and active digital citizenship among Indonesian Muslim students.

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