The Role of Social Media Platforms in Educating Kuwaiti University Students about Political Issues

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Researcher in the Department of Public Relations and Advertising, College of Information - Yarmouk University, Irbid, Jordan

2 Associate Professor in the Department of Public Relations and Advertising at the College of Information - Yarmouk University, Irbid, Jordan

Abstract

This study identifies the role of social media platforms in educating Kuwaiti university students about political issues. The study has used a questionnaire as a research method on a sample of (400) individuals from Kuwaiti university students. The research findings confirm that all the participants depend on social media platforms to follow-up topics and political issues moderately with (38.8%). Furthermore, the most important reasons for depending on social media to follow up on political issues are respectively “because they immediately deal with political developments”, and they are “interested in analyzing political information”, then “freedom of expressing views and political affiliations”. The findings also show the variety of the political issues followed by the participants through these online platforms, especially “local news and issues" and "ministerial formations". The average of the cognitive effects achieved by the research sample following these political issues online is (3.44) with “contributing to increasing their knowledge in political issues” being the main cognitive effect. Moreover, the average of the emotional effects achieved is (3.43), with “increasing a growing concern about the danger of current political events”, being the main emotional effect. Similarly, the average of the behavioral effects achieved is (3.44), with “engaging in discussions about political issues” being the main behavioral effect. The total average of the answers of the research participants about the cognitive, psychological, and behavioral effects is (3.43), which shows the role of social media platforms in educating Kuwaiti university students about political issues.

 

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