Abstract
Digital transformation has changed the pattern of academic interactions in higher education and given rise to cyberspace, which is increasingly dominant in the learning process. On the other hand, this development has given rise to symptoms of the secularization of cyberspace, characterized by a weakening of ethical values, a decline in respect for educators, and an increase in transactional academic behavior. This study aims to analyze the urgency of strengthening ethical values ??in response to the secularization of cyberspace in the digital era and to reflect its impact on pedagogical relations between students and lecturers. The scope of the study focuses on digital academic interactions in religious higher education environments, specifically related to communication ethics, respect for lecturers, and student academic integrity. The study used a qualitative approach with a critical case study method. Data were obtained through participatory cyberobservation, in-depth interviews, and digital documentation, then analyzed using thematic analysis techniques. The results show that the secularization of cyberspace contributes to the desacralization of academic relations, the erosion of educators' moral authority, and a decline in the quality of ethical values ??in digital communication. However, strengthening ethical values ??through internalizing the values ??of respect, responsibility, politeness, and academic integrity has been proven to strengthen the quality of pedagogical interactions in digital spaces. This study concludes that strengthening good manners is a strategic need in maintaining the moral, spiritual, and humanitarian dimensions of education amidst increasingly complex digital technological developments.