The Influence of Social Media on Perceived Levels of National Security and Crisis: A Case Study of Youth in the United Arab Emirates

Nadir Al Naqbi, Naill Al Momani and Amanda Davies ()
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Nadir Al Naqbi: Emergency Management Department, Dubai Police Academy, P.O. Box 1493, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Naill Al Momani: Emergency Management Department, Dubai Police Academy, P.O. Box 1493, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Amanda Davies: Policing and Security, Rabdan Academy, P.O. Box 114646, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 17, 1-19

Abstract: The increase in the use of social media as a 21st century communication tool is in parallel increasing the threat to national security globally. This study explores the perception of United Arab Emirate community members (specifically youth) on the influence of social media as a threat; the wide use of SM platforms for Emirate of Sharjah (Dibba Al-Hisn, Khor Fakkan, Kalba) were analyzed utilizing a descriptive-analytical method. The results of the study on the effects and consequences of social media on national security in the UAE, rates social media as having the highest level of influence on political implications followed in decreasing order of influence by, economic, cultural and societal, ethical and religious dimensions, and the least potential influence being on perceived national security implications. Further, the results of a one-way variance analysis indicate the potential for the perceived level of national security experienced by youth community members in the UAE to be predicted through social media. A unique feature of this study is the analysis of the influence of the five dimensions of national security on each other and national security collectively from an Arab youth perspective. Further, the study design is replicable and offers, (a) an opportunity for wider utilization as an avenue for contributing to understanding the impact of social media on the perception of a country’s national security, and (b) a fundamental baseline for future research.

Keywords: national security; social media; youth; crisis; United Arab Emirates; Emirate of Sharjah; multiple linear regression; social media influence; Arab youth (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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