Behind the algorithm: A comparative framing analysis of Islamic media narratives on global humanitarian crises

Abstract

This study examines how Islamic digital media construct and disseminate humanitarian narratives within algorithmically governed platforms, focusing on three global crises: the Palestinian-Gaza conflict, the Rohingya refugee crisis, and global poverty and climate-related food insecurity. Employing a systematic literature review (SLR) method guided by PRISMA protocol, this study critically synthesizes 24 peer-reviewed sources published between 2020 and 2025, integrating framing theory with a critical discourse perspective to examine patterns of narrative construction, algorithmic suppression, and counter-hegemonic strategies in Islamic digital media. The analysis reveals three dominant patterns: (1) Islamic media consistently employ humanitarian and moral frames—emphasising suffering, solidarity, and divine responsibility—as counter-narratives to Western security-centred frames; (2) algorithmic structures on major platforms systematically marginalise Islamic humanitarian content through shadow-banning, content removal, and engagement penalties; and (3) despite structural constraints, Islamic digital actors—including da’i, NGOs, and citizen journalists—demonstrate adaptive framing strategies that leverage visual storytelling, hashtag activism, and platform diversification to sustain narrative presence. This study offers the first comparative SLR framework that simultaneously analyses Islamic media framing across three distinct crisis typologies within the context of algorithmic governance, contributing a novel intersectional perspective to Islamic communication studies, media framing theory, and digital humanitarianism.)