| Abstract: |
This study examined online youth religious communities and patterns of engagement in a digital culture. It investigates how digital platforms have reshaped patterns of religious engagements, identity formation, and communal belonging among young people especially young Catholics in Port Harcourt within the wider context of digital culture and contemporary youth religiosity. The research was motivated by observable shifts from exclusively parish-based participation to digitally mediated forms of religious interaction and the limited empirical data on how these developments shape Catholic youth faith practice in South–South Nigeria. A descriptive survey design was adopted. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire administered to young Catholics across selected parishes in Port Harcourt. Responses were analysed using descriptive statistics based on a four-point Likert scale. The findings indicate that young Catholics actively participate in multiple online religious communities, particularly through WhatsApp groups, Facebook pages, YouTube channels, and livestreamed liturgical services. Engagement was found to be frequent and participatory, involving prayer, access to teachings, and interaction with religious content. The study further revealed that online religious engagement contributes to personal devotion, understanding of Catholic doctrine, and a sense of religious belonging. However, challenges such as distraction, superficial participation, exposure to conflicting teachings, and unstable internet access were also identified. The study concludes that online religious communities have become important complementary spaces for faith interactions among young Catholics, especially within digitally oriented culture. It therefore recommends that the church strengthen its pastoral presence in digital spaces, provides structured and credible online platforms for youth engagement, and encourage a balanced integration between online participation and active parish life. |
