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Use and Addiction of Social Networking Applications by University Students in Jordan

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Abstract

As social networking applications (SNAs) rose through the past 12 years, it has prospered to be main communicating methods. Therefore this study aims to explore the use and addiction of SNAs (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn…etc.) by university students in Jordan. A survey of 331 students at a semi government university in Jordan was conducted to achieve the study objectives. The study found that students used a range of SNAs including WhatsApp, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, and Google Plus. WhatsApp was the most used application among students followed by Facebook, and Snapchat. Students also used mobile phone as the main device to access the SNAs. Moreover, nearly three quarters of students started using SNAs for the first time 5 or more years ago and more than half of students spent 2 to less than 6 h per day on using these applications. Furthermore, more than three quarters of students were satisfied with these applications in providing them with the things they were seeking. In addition, the results indicated that the more time students spend using SNAs, the more likely they will exhibit symptoms of SNAs addiction. Both satisfaction and experience with SNAs were not correlated with SNAs addiction. SNAs addiction was not a predictor of students’ GPA. In light of the results, several recommendations were suggested to both increase the use of SNAs by university students and benefit from using these applications in Jordan.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Business Studies, Arab Open University, Kuwait Branch, Kuwait City, Kuwait

    Basil Alzougool

  2. Business Administration and E-marketing Department - King Talal Faculty of Business and Technology, Princess Sumaya University for Technology, Amman, Jordan

    Raed Wishah

Authors
  1. Basil Alzougool
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  2. Raed Wishah
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Correspondence to Basil Alzougool.

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Ethics approval for the study was given by Princess Sumaya University for Technology.

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Alzougool, B., Wishah, R. Use and Addiction of Social Networking Applications by University Students in Jordan. J. technol. behav. sci. 4, 201–209 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41347-018-0069-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41347-018-0069-z

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