The role of social media in information dissemination to improve youth interactions
AbstractThis study investigated how youth in Community 8 in Tema, Ghana, used social media and how that affected their interpersonal and communication skills. The study used a combined framework of the Social Learning Theory and Media Richness Theory, as well as an exploratory descriptive design and...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Cogent Social Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311886.2024.2334480 |
| _version_ | 1797221150422466560 |
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| author | Priscilla Kwekie Tetteh Philip Kwaku Kankam |
| author_facet | Priscilla Kwekie Tetteh Philip Kwaku Kankam |
| author_sort | Priscilla Kwekie Tetteh |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | AbstractThis study investigated how youth in Community 8 in Tema, Ghana, used social media and how that affected their interpersonal and communication skills. The study used a combined framework of the Social Learning Theory and Media Richness Theory, as well as an exploratory descriptive design and a qualitative technique, to investigate how youth in Ghana’s Tema Community 8 perceive and use media. Thematic analysis was used to identify the main themes and patterns in the data acquired from a sample of 16 youths between the ages of 15 and 25 using semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and observation. Based on the findings of the study, for young people, social media is the preferred method of contact over face-to-face encounters. Some individuals believed that a more deliberate balance between digital and bodily interactions was necessary. When it comes to effects on the ability to communicate face-to-face, there is a reduction in abilities but some apparent advances in expressiveness. Comparing platforms, advantages included increased networks and innovation, but overuse led to social anxiety and distraction. The study demonstrates the need for parental mediation, digital literacy programs that enable youth to use technology intentionally and responsibly, partnerships between legislators, policymakers, and technology companies, and guidance and interventions to help young people be able to balance offline interactions with online interactions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T13:00:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-74f617c6ee1f47c487cd0b97ca11d97f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2331-1886 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T13:00:52Z |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cogent Social Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-74f617c6ee1f47c487cd0b97ca11d97f2024-04-05T12:27:53ZengTaylor & Francis GroupCogent Social Sciences2331-18862024-12-0110110.1080/23311886.2024.2334480The role of social media in information dissemination to improve youth interactionsPriscilla Kwekie Tetteh0Philip Kwaku Kankam1School of Communication Studies, African University College of Communications, Accra, GhanaDepartment of Information Studies, University of Ghana, Legon-Accra, GhanaAbstractThis study investigated how youth in Community 8 in Tema, Ghana, used social media and how that affected their interpersonal and communication skills. The study used a combined framework of the Social Learning Theory and Media Richness Theory, as well as an exploratory descriptive design and a qualitative technique, to investigate how youth in Ghana’s Tema Community 8 perceive and use media. Thematic analysis was used to identify the main themes and patterns in the data acquired from a sample of 16 youths between the ages of 15 and 25 using semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and observation. Based on the findings of the study, for young people, social media is the preferred method of contact over face-to-face encounters. Some individuals believed that a more deliberate balance between digital and bodily interactions was necessary. When it comes to effects on the ability to communicate face-to-face, there is a reduction in abilities but some apparent advances in expressiveness. Comparing platforms, advantages included increased networks and innovation, but overuse led to social anxiety and distraction. The study demonstrates the need for parental mediation, digital literacy programs that enable youth to use technology intentionally and responsibly, partnerships between legislators, policymakers, and technology companies, and guidance and interventions to help young people be able to balance offline interactions with online interactions.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311886.2024.2334480Information disseminationinteractionsocial mediamedia richness theoryyouthGuangchao Charles Feng, School of Communication, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong |
| spellingShingle | Priscilla Kwekie Tetteh Philip Kwaku Kankam The role of social media in information dissemination to improve youth interactions Cogent Social Sciences Information dissemination interaction social media media richness theory youth Guangchao Charles Feng, School of Communication, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong |
| title | The role of social media in information dissemination to improve youth interactions |
| title_full | The role of social media in information dissemination to improve youth interactions |
| title_fullStr | The role of social media in information dissemination to improve youth interactions |
| title_full_unstemmed | The role of social media in information dissemination to improve youth interactions |
| title_short | The role of social media in information dissemination to improve youth interactions |
| title_sort | role of social media in information dissemination to improve youth interactions |
| topic | Information dissemination interaction social media media richness theory youth Guangchao Charles Feng, School of Communication, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311886.2024.2334480 |
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