Parents' Strategies in Influencing Islamic Religious Education in Generation Z Students in The Digital Era: A Study of Parents

Abstract

The development of digital technology has brought significant changes to parenting patterns, particularly in instilling Islamic religious education in Generation Z children living in a digital ecosystem. This qualitative descriptive study aims to explain how digital technology influences parental strategies in internalising Islamic values in children. The study was conducted at MA Sholihiyyah Kalitengah, with participants limited to parents who have Generation Z children enrolled at the institution, in order to obtain an in-depth contextual understanding. The results indicate that digital technology plays a role in enriching parenting methods through the provision of a variety of Islamic learning media, such as Quran applications, educational videos, and interactive Islamic teaching content. Furthermore, technology enables religious oversight through digital controls, such as parental controls and screen time management. Parents also adopt a collaborative approach by accompanying their children when accessing religious content to avoid misinformation. On the other hand, challenges arise in the form of exposure to negative content, digital distractions, and a decline in the intensity of direct spiritual communication. Thus, digital technology is an ambivalent factor: it can be an effective tool in Islamic education when used in a targeted and supervised manner, but it also has the potential to undermine religious values if not managed properly. These findings emphasise the need for religious digital literacy for parents to ensure that Islamic education strategies remain relevant and effective for Generation Z.