Social networking sites and their impact on sociocultural values in Arab societies
Abstract
The interest in social networking sites has increased lately due to both the scientific and technological development which encompassed both the means of communication and the media. This development that contributed to bringing distances closer and the getting to know better the different people of the whole world as well as the emergence of social and cultural values alien to our Arab societies. On the other hand, it facilitated the dissemination of knowledge and the achievement of social responsibility. The Arab and Islamic people are considered the most affected due to their distinguished values, customs, traditions and conservative culture and their adherence to high morals compared to other people, which made them vulnerable to attempts of change and obliterate, by publishing applications calling for the generalization of Western culture, its imitation and keeping pace with it, so that the individual becomes more civilized and developed. This is what social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram), and other applications that the Google App Store makes available to the Arab youth, have tried to do. Despite this, it has made the world a small village, and opened new horizons for the Arab youth, especially in the scientific and knowledge field. In this intervention, we will try to reveal the impact of social media on the sociocultural values of Arab societies bothnegatively and positively, and work to find strategies to reduce its negative effectson them. And take advantage of its positives in the cultural and social fields.