Shiddiq in Cyberspace: The Foundation of Honesty and Integrity in the Digital Age

Abstract

The development of digital technology has significantly transformed patterns of social communication, particularly through social media, which enables individuals to act as both information producers and disseminators. However, this progress has also generated serious challenges in the form of a crisis of honesty, marked by the widespread circulation of hoaxes, disinformation, and digital content manipulation. This article aims to examine the relevance of the value of shiddiq from an Islamic perspective as an ethical foundation for communication in the digital era. This study employs a qualitative descriptive approach through library research, drawing on classical and contemporary sources that discuss shiddiq, Islamic communication ethics, and digital communication phenomena. The findings indicate that shiddiq is a comprehensive moral value encompassing consistency between intention, speech, and action, with spiritual, moral, and social implications. In the context of the digital sphere, shiddiq plays a crucial role as a principle of information verification, moral responsibility, and personal integrity in online communication. Its application, aligned with the principle of tabayyun, has the potential to reduce the spread of hoaxes and strengthen social trust. Therefore, the internalization of shiddiq is essential for fostering an ethical, civilized, and socially responsible digital communication ecosystem.