Paper short abstract:

Using ethnographic research and interviews, this paper focuses on the role of Internet and social media on the development, as well as current practice of Modern Paganism among two generations (Gen Y and Gen Z) of Pagans in the Czech Republic.

Paper long abstract:

In the Czech(oslovak) Republic, Modern Paganism has been developing mostly after the fall of the totalitarian communist regime in 1989. However, the biggest expansion came with the spread of Internet and chatting platforms and forums in the late 90’s and 00’s, where this first post-revolution generation of Modern Pagans started to meet, share and shape their views, theologies and groups.

Over the years, the Czech Pagan scene grew and got younger, and it now seems that the “new” Gen Z (or Zoomer) Pagans outnumber the “original” Gen-Y (or Millennial) ones. Various new social media and platforms emerged in the past years that are used dominantly by the members of Gen Z, and we can see that Paganism and Witchcraft flourish there (e.g. the WitchTok phenomenon).

This paper focuses on (1) the role of Internet and social media on the development of Modern Paganism in the Czech Republic, as well as on (2) their role in the current practice of Modern Paganism among the two generations, as they generally use and perceive the Internet and social media in a different manner, focus on different platforms, and act differently online. Through research and interviews among two generations of Modern Pagans in the Czech Republic, this paper strives to find the differences and commonalities in how they perceive and use the Internet and social media in the context of their practice of Modern Paganism.