International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences

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The Impact of Social Media Networks on Public Opinion in the United Arab Emirates

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Social media networks play a significant role in shaping the way people communicate in different societies around the world. It also highlights and reflects the values and principles upon which the ethical customs of a certain society are built. This research aims to identify the impact of social media networks on public opinion in the United Arab Emirates. The main hypothesis of this research is that social media networks have a significant impact on public opinion in the United Arab Emirates. The use of the functional analysis approach in this research comes through revealing the function of scientific laws and theories related to explaining the roles of social networking sites in directing public opinion and influencing the public to achieve quick goals, with occasional use of the comparative approach to benefit from Arab and international experiences in this field. The research reached several results, the most important of which is that family is a mirror on which the repercussions of social media networks are reflected, and that social media networks constitute an essential way through which family members interact and communicate. The researcher reached several recommendations, the most prominent of which is that parents should supervise how their children use and interact with social media networks, and that social institutions shall raise the cultural and social awareness among families regarding the use of social media networks in their daily life. The researcher also recommended that specialized centres shall be established to deal with any negative repercussions of social media networks, thus contributing to the optimal use of social media networks among families and society members.

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