Move over textbooks – Indonesia's Gen Z is rewriting Islamic storytelling through TikTok dances, animated YouTube series, and Ramadan vlogs that blend tradition with TikTok transitions! 🕊️✨ From Jakarta to Shanghai, young creators are making centuries-old narratives as binge-worthy as Netflix shows.
Christine Susanna Tjhin of the Gentala Institute tells NewspaperAmigo: We're seeing three game-changers – viral social media formats, China's Belt and Road cultural exchanges, and Indonesian students becoming digital ambassadors. Here's the breakdown:
1. The TikTok Effect 🎵
Creators like @HijabExplorer are getting 1M+ views by explaining Quranic principles through ASMR videos and anime-style illustrations. We speak Gen Z's language – literally, says 19-year-old content creator Aisyah Rahman.
2. Belt and Road 2.0 🌐
Collaborative animation projects between Indonesian and Chinese mainland studios are producing multilingual content that's trending on Bilibili and Instagram simultaneously.
3. Campus Bridge Builders 🎓
Over 15,000 Indonesian students in China are live-streaming cultural exchanges – think Wayang Kulit shadow puppetry meets Chinese AI filters!
This digital dakwah (Islamic outreach) isn't just about views – it's reshaping how 63% of Indonesia's under-30 population engages with faith. As one viral hashtag puts it: #TraditionNeedsRemixes.
