The Role Of Maqasid Al-shari’ah As A Fundamental Ethics In Social Media Use

Today’s technological advancements have resulted in broad social media usage, ranging from
youngsters to the elderly. The use of social media can bring both good and bad to society.
Thus, social media and technology used must be controlled with ethics and moral principles.
This study aims to look at the ability of Maqāṣid al-Shari’ah as a fundamental ethic in the use
of social media. Five principle elements (al-Darūriyat al-Khams) in Maqāṣid al-Shari’ah,
namely the protection of religion (al-Din), life (al-Nafs), intellect (al-’Aql), progeny (al-Nasl)
and wealth (al-Māl) became the yardstick in the use of social media. This study found that
Maqāṣid al-Shari’ah is very suitable to be the core of ethics in the use of social media because
it can control the harm brought through social media. The study suggests that Maqāṣid alShari’ah be the primary ethical in using social media and made a factor in the study of
acceptance and use of technology.