Digital Christianity: Evaluating Exposure, Knowledge, and Use of Faith-Based Social Media Handles by Christians in Southeast Nigeria

Faith-based social media platforms have become increasingly influential in shaping how Christians engage with their spirituality. This study investigated the extent of exposure, knowledge, and use of such platforms among Christians in Southeast Nigeria. A structured questionnaire was administered to 400 respondents across 20 urban communities, with 375 valid responses analyzed. The findings indicate that Christians in the region are highly exposed to faith-based social media handles, with NSPPD and “We Are Catholics” being the most followed. Facebook and YouTube were identified as the primary platforms used, and the majority of respondents reported daily engagement lasting one to three hours. Participants demonstrated a strong understanding of how these platforms function in preaching, prayer, and sharing church updates. They also actively used them to access church-related information and participate in virtual religious activities. Overall, the study highlighted the widespread use and knowledge of digital faith-based platforms as effective tools for religious connection and church communication among Christians in Southeast Nigeria and also recommended that pastors and ministers are encouraged to have a digital media in their various churches and use multiple religious’ social media handles in propagating the faith as they could be able to reach-out many Christians using the platforms.