The role of social networking sites in developing citizenship and belonging values among Kuwaiti youth

Document Type : Original Article

Author

PhD in Media and Communication Sciences

Abstract

     The study aims to examine the role of social networking sites in developing citizenship and belonging values among Kuwaiti youth; it seeks to identify the youth usage of social networking sites, the impact of these sites on citizenship and belonging values. It is a descriptive study; it has used the survey method and the questionnaire tool applying to 300 respondents. It has based on the cultural implantation theory.
The main results:

The Kuwaiti youth use social networking sites for many reasons, including interacting with people of common interest, acquiring values, knowing about local, regional and international news, making friends from foreign countries, participating in discussions, exchanging views, learning about events at the national and international levels, accessing news and events documented in pictures and videos, in addition to entertaining and spending
Social networking sites affect the youth identity by reaffirming the importance of sacrifice for their country, and enhancing their loyalty to their home land. Also, these sites highlight the positive aspects by presenting the nation’s achievements and the Kuwaiti citizen’s decent life, and develop the ideas ​​of loyalty, commitment, democracy, rights and duties.
Social networking sites play a great role in preserving identity by supporting and developing the culture of society, arising the feeling of patriotism and the desire of community service, as well as evoking the sense of pride of the nation’s symbols, leaders, and history.

 
 

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