The role of social networks in combating extremism among youth (A field study from the point of view of undergraduate students at the Hashemite University 2021)

Authors

Safaa Moneeb Saleh Al-Husan, University of JordanFollow

Abstract

The study aimed at identifying the role of social networks in combating extremism for young people from the perspective of university students, given that they are the most widely used group for these sites in society which will help in presenting a vision on employing these sites to combat extremism. To achieve this goal, the study used the quantitative descriptive approach based on a social survey, the study sample consisted of (6,831) undergraduate students at the Hashemite University in Zarqa in Jordan. The study concluded that (96.8%) of the study sample possesses knowledge of the concept of extremism at a level of (good, very good and excellent), (85%) of the study sample believes that extremism is dangerous and must be confronted. The study also found that the most important reasons motivate young people to use social networks are to increase their level of culture and knowledge, follow the news and the latest developments, and communicate with relatives and friends, fill free time and entertainment, curiosity and knowledge of the cultures and customs of other peoples. The study also found that there is a correlation between the motives for using social networks and the means of combating extremism through social networking sites, amounting to (51.3%), which is a positive medium correlation. In light of the results that have been reached, it was recommended to activate the role of religious institutions on social networks due to their impact on developing the concepts of tolerance, moderation among various groups of society, and to activate the role of social media in combating moral decay, by monitoring the clips and images that is published through social networks.

Recommended Citation

Al-Husan, Safaa Moneeb Saleh (2022) "The role of social networks in combating extremism among youth (A field study from the point of view of undergraduate students at the Hashemite University 2021)," Journal of the Association of Arab Universities for Research in Higher Education (مجلة اتحاد الجامعات العربية (للبحوث في التعليم العالي: Vol. 42: Iss. 3, Article 8.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.aaru.edu.jo/jaaru_rhe/vol42/iss3/8