Grand Imam, Digital Leadership, and Twitter

Abstract

The Internet plays a vital role in shaping social dialogue, replicating the old and established communication models. In both physical and virtual realms, public discussions or ideological debates needs influential leaders who can serve as reference points, either promoting or challenging the established societal norms and values. The concept of leadership has garnered considerable attention in communication management studies, highlighting the distinctiveness of leaders and their chosen methods of influence. This article uses the concept of digital leadership as a guiding force in online conversations, with a specific focus on Twitter and his potential to facilitate this role. Our study centers on analyzing the Twitter account @alimamaltayeb, providing valuable insights into the type of leadership exhibited by the Grand Imam and the impact of his teachings. Through our analysis, we demonstrate that @alimamaltayeb predominantly employs Twitter to address various misunderstandings about Islam. Furthermore, this research unveils that certain messages elicit a greater interest among his audience compared to others.