NEWS
A Study at UoB Reveals Many Young People Use Social Networking Sites as an Alternative to Actual Communication
University of Bahrain – Sakhir (Ali Al-Sabbaq)
25 June 2022
A study at the University of Bahrain recommended young people reduce the use of social networking sites, and increase actual communication, warning against addiction to social media.
The study, presented by Khaled Ali Al-Sayadi, student in Master of Media program at the College of Arts, called on those interested in youth behavior to organize specialized seminars and courses on how to minimize the use of social networking sites and increase direct communication.
The thesis, supervised by Associate Professor of Media in the Department of Media, Tourism and Arts, Dr. Ashraf Ahmed Abdel-Mugheeth, was titled, “The Relationship between the Use of Social Networking Sites and Social Interaction among Young People in the Kingdom of Bahrain.”
The researcher stated, “The study aimed to understand the reality of young people’s use of social networking sites in Bahrain, and to reveal the impact of using social networking sites on family interaction patterns and assessing the relationship between the use of social networking sites and social interaction among young people in Bahrain.” The researcher employed the descriptive approach using the structured interview technique with three groups of young men and women.
The examination panel consisted of the Associate Professor of Media and Public Relations in the Department of Media, Tourism and Arts, Dr. Ashraf Abdel-Mugheeth, as a supervisor, the Associate Professor of Media in the same department, Dr. Shuaib Abdel-Moneim Al-Ghobashi, as an internal examiner, and Professor of Media at Umm Al-Qura University in Saudi Arabia, Professor Mohamed Gharib, as an external examiner.
The study revealed that social networking sites have become one of the basic requirements of life for young people, especially amid the Coronavirus (Covid 19) pandemic.
The study found that young people use social networking sites as an alternative to actual communication, and so these sites have turned from a secondary to a primary part of young people’s lives.
The study showed that social networking sites have become a means of identity. When a young man introduces himself, he mentions the name of his accounts on social networking sites to get to know him more. Social media has also become a place for shopping and searching for jobs for young people.
According to the study findings, young people use social networking sites even while surrounded by family and friends and find it difficult to stay away from these sites.
