Why Egyptian Youths Use Facebook and the Effect of Facebook on Them - Research Proposal Example

Egyptian Youth and New Media Online Social Networks: Why they use Facebook and the effect of Facebook on them Facebook has revolutionized the way people communicate. From London to Lebanon and from California to Cairo, people young and old are plugged into what has become the largest and most successful social networking site on the planet. Bypassing competitors Friendster, Myspace and a whole host of other pretenders to the throne, Facebook truly has become a global phenomenon with reportedly more than 120 million members (keep in mind that Egypt’s total population is just less than 90 million, while that of Canada is approximately 33 million and gigantic country of Australia is a mere 22 million). Truly global in scope and reach Facebook use has recently stirred up controversial in some of the more conservative regions of the world, including many Middle Eastern countries. Egypt, a conservative Presidential Republic, and a flag bearer for Arab around the world has recently been mired in much controversy surrounding the use of Facebook as a tool for social mobilization (The Economist, 2009). Introduction Seeking to explain the relatively new phenomenon of online social networking in the Arab context through an analysis of Facebook in Egypt, this proposal will be structured in the following manner. We have commenced an introduction which will provide a brief yet thorough description of the scope of the research proposal. Following this introduction we turn to an overview of research aims and questions. Why have Egyptian youth turned towards new media like the Facebook social networking site? What are the implications of this shift in modes of communication in the Egyptian context? These questions and many more will be elaborated upon further in this analysis. A compact overview of our research aims and questions will be followed by a brief literature review which will provide a nice introduction to the major communication theories relevant to the topic of Facebook and new forms of social communication in the twenty-first century. Our literature review will be followed by a description of our methodology and questions surrounding measurement and the coding of variables. We conclude with a concise overview of this important project proposal and end with a section detailing our conclusions and recommendations. We now turn to our major research aims and questions as they pertain to Facebook usage in Egypt. Research Aims and Questions: Seeking to understand Facebook usage in Egypt, we propose an exploratory research project which will study how Egyptian youth use online social networking sites, and will also study of the effects that this usage may have. This research paper will study Egyptian youth on the Facebook social networking website with a specific emphasis on the social and political implications of the availability of Facebook in the Egyptian context. There has been a lot of controversy regarding New Media and Facebook in the Egyptian media during this past year. Facebook came to the attention of the general public when a young woman was arrested for inciting an illegal strike through a posting in Facebook. The Government media named Facebook as culprit and as a medium for illegal behavior and social dissent. As a result of this controversy, the opposition press started cheering what they called the “Facebook Youth,” and referred to the “Facebook Revolution.” Other media have called Facebook a waste of the new generation’s time and have called New Media a corruption of Egyptian culture. Despite the widespread coverage of the arrest of the “Facebook Girl”, there was little understanding in mainstream Egyptian society, provoking widespread confusion. Most people did not know Facebook, nor what the “Facebook Youth” were doing on the site. We wish to perform a study which will clarifying exactly what Egyptian youth do on Facebook and the effects it may or may not have in the social, economic and political realms. Accordingly, we hope to answer the following questions as part of our analysis: Why have Egyptian youth turned to New Media like Facebook for social networking? What types of activities do Egyptian youth use Facebook for? Has Facebook affected these youth’s way of thinking and behaving? Has a lack of personal freedoms in Egypt (freedom of expression, freedom of the press, etc), driven Egyptian youth online to voice their concerns? Literature Review: Communication theory has just begun to fully understand the social and personal implications of online social networking sites on communications and individual development. Wellman et al. (2001) found that overactive internet use can have negative ramifications on personal development and the creation of social capital. Bargh, McKenna, & Fitzsimons (2002) discerned that people’s perceptions of themselves as well as of reality shifted through unhealthy exposure to online forms of communication although they also found that certain socially marginalized underrepresented groups did in fact benefit from online social communication. Finally, Stutzman (2006) found that the internet gives people a form for both communication and identity formation and this medium has helped evolve the social networking and communication. Rosenberg (1989) discussed the challenges associated with negative self-image among teenagers and Cassidy (2009) discussed the ways in which individualism in fundamentally transformed in the 21st century through online social networking. A comprehensive list of relevant literature on the subject is beyond the scope here but is available for perusal in the reference list attached to this proposal. Methods: Seeking to provide as holistic an analysis as possible, we propose a heterogeneous (Diversity) sampling model. This model will allow us to include all opinions or views and we are not concerned about representing these views proportionately. Accordingly, a qualitative analysis suits the parameters of this project best. This project will be the result of extensive research and the bulk of the data explored will be obtained through scholarly analysis of communication theory as well as a comprehensive literature review of all current scholarly information on the subject. Although primarily qualitative in nature, if quantitative data is available, this information has been integrated into the overall analysis. To this end, scholarly journals websites and the latest books on the subject will be utilized. This research intends to undertake data collection through extensive research and coding of relevant information. Surveys, in-depth interviews will take place online by joining an Egyptian Facebook group. In addition to scholarly research on the subject, this author has sought out primary documents from a variety of actors, both in Egypt and abroad. Measurement: Utilizing an ethnographic qualitative approach, we propose to use direct observation of our respondent group as well as apply indirect measures such as written documents. Through in-depth interviews with individuals and groups, we aim to provide a comprehensive analysis of the issues at hand. Our interview structure will be followed by survey research in the form of a questionnaire, in order to form generalizations. A timetable will entail two years of research and writing, beginning October 15, 2009. Prior to this date, this researcher will be undertaking a thorough review of Egyptian pages of Facebook and will be conducting cursory research during this period. An early timetable for completion posits that research will be undertaken between now and December 31 2009. A cursory draft will be prepared before the end of the scholastic year in 2010. Conclusions and Recommendations The Los Angeles Times called it, “Egypts Facebook showdown” and the ramifications of controversy emanating from the street side cafes in Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor truly did deserve global attention. The government of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak is presently considering blocking Facebook is its entirety after young disaffected Egyptian citizens were able to mobilize up to 80,000 supporters to protest the rising price of food in Egypt. Accordingly, Facebook provided an essential forum for the protestors and significantly broadened the scope and voice of individuals intent on protesting the rising cost of foodstuffs as well as in support of a local textile worker’s strike. According to the Los Angeles Times, the conservative government of President Mubarak jailed many dissidents and engaged in torture following the Facebook-instigated protests. Still operating under emergency rule which dates back a quarter of a century, Egypt is presently considering banning Facebook domestically and currently appears to be cracking down on dissidents who have chosen to use Facebook to mobilize the disaffected masses. This project aims to answer each question discussed above and provide a thorough and holistic analysis of the Facebook phenomenon in Egypt (Mansour, 2008). References Bargh, J., & McKenna, K. (2004). The Internet and social life. Annual Review of Psychology, 55 (1), 573-590. Bargh, J. A., McKenna, K. Y., & Fitzsimons, G. M. (2002). Can you see the real me? Activation and expression of the "true self" on the Internet. Journal of Social Issues, 58 (1), 33-48. Boase, J., Horrigan, J. B., Wellman, B., & Rainie, L. (2006). The strength of Internet ties. Pew Internet and American Life Project. Retrieved August 19 2009 from http://www.pewinternet.org/pdfs/PIP_Internet_ties.pdf Bourdieu, P., & Wacquant, L. (1992). An Invitation to Reflexive Sociology. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. Cassidy, J. (2006, May 15). Me media. The New Yorker, 50-59. Coleman, J. S. (1988). Social capital in the creation of human capital. American Journal of Sociology, 94 (Supplement), S95-S120. Diener, E., Suh, E., & Oishi, S. (1997). Recent findings on subjective well-being. Indian Journal of Clinical Psychology, 24 (1), 25-41. Facebook membership surges to 120 million users. Cnet.com. November 3, 2008. Last Accessed August 19 2009 http://news.cnet.com/8301-17939_1090081341-2.htm Mansour, Sherif. Egypts Facebook showdown. Los Angeles Times June 02, 2008, Last Accessed August 19 2009 http://articles.latimes.com/2008/jun/02/opinion/oe-mansour2 Rosenberg, M. (1989). Society and the Adolescent Self-Image. Middletown, CT: Wesleyan University Press. Stutzman, F. (2006, April). An evaluation of identity-sharing behavior in social network communities. Paper presented at the iDMAa and IMS Code Conference, Oxford, Ohio. Wellman, B., Haase, A. Q., Witte, J., & Hampton, K. (2001). Does the Internet increase, decrease, or supplement social capital? Social networks, participation, and community commitment. American Behavioral Scientist, 45 (3), 436. 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