The Effects of Social Media Networking Sites on the Values of Citizenship Among Young Omanis: A Mixed-Approach Investigation

The present study aimed to reveal the positive and negative effects of SNSs on the values of citizenship among young Omanis. The study was applied on two samples. First, it includes a random sample of multiple component stages of 550 young men and women from the Sultan Qaboos University, of whom (295 males and 255 females), has responded to a questionnaire designed by the researchers. The second sample is made up of 14 young youths randomly selected from applied college students in Rustaq, and Technical College in Muscat who participated in focus groups discussion. Results showed that the positive and negative impacts of SNSs on the values of citizenship were great, but the positive effects were stronger than the negative effects. The results also showed a statistically significant difference between male and female youth in the positive effects of the means of SNSs on the values of citizenship in favor of females. Furthermore, the outcome of the focus group discussions showed the employability of SNSs in citizenship education by the promotion of its values among young Omanis through the effective communication between government institutions, educational institutions, community institutions and young Omanis through the SNSs. Finally, there is a need for activating the role of family in the citizenship education