SOCIAL MEDIA AS A NEW PUBLIC SPHERE:
Reconsidering the Role of Public Theology in the Digital Age
Keywords:
Digital theology, digital transformation, public sphere, public theology, social mediaAbstract
The rapid development of social media has fundamentally transformed the public sphere from a conventional social space into a digital environment that shapes communication, participation, and public opinion formation. This transformation presents new challenges for public theology, which has largely developed within the framework of the conventional public sphere. This article aims to reflect on social media as a new public sphere while re-examining the role of public theology in contemporary digital society. Employing a qualitative library research approach, this study critically analyzes scholarly literature on public theology, the public sphere, social media, and digital theology. The findings indicate that social media should no longer be understood merely as a communication tool for the church but as a public sphere that reshapes how people engage in dialogue, construct relationships, and pursue the common good. Consequently, public theology requires a conceptual reconstruction to remain relevant within an increasingly digital society. This article proposes four interrelated dimensions of reconstructed public theology: digital presence, digital dialogue, digital public witness, and digital responsibility. These dimensions provide a conceptual framework for reinterpreting the church's role as a public actor in the digital age. Accordingly, the article contributes to the development of public theology by positioning social media not merely as a ministry platform but as a new sphere of public witness that calls the church to exercise an ethical, dialogical, and transformative presence.
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