Building Social Networks in the Digital Era: The Subjective Experience of Students’ Experiences in Building Relationships through Social Media
Main Article Content
Abstract
Interpersonal relationships in the digital age are increasingly mediated by social media platforms, influencing how individuals connect and engage. Existing research has highlighted social media's role in communication, but limited attention has been given to students' subjective experiences in forming relationships online. This study explores university students' lived experiences in building and maintaining interpersonal relationships through social media. Using a phenomenological approach, in-depth interviews with 10 university students revealed key themes: the superficiality of digital connections, challenges in maintaining emotional closeness, and contrasts between online and face-to-face relationships. These findings illuminate the complexities of virtual communication and its impact on relational dynamics. Practical implications suggest fostering digital literacy and strategies for nurturing meaningful connections in online spaces, particularly within academic contexts.
Article Details
Section
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
References
Ali-Saleh, O., Bord, S., & Basis, F. (2022). Factors associated with decisions of Arab minority parents in Israel to vaccinate their children against COVID-19. Vaccines, 10(6), Article 870. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines10060870
Al-Mamun, F., Hosen, I., Griffiths, M. D., & Mamun, M. A. (2022). Facebook use and its predictive factors among students: Evidence from a lower- and middle-income country, Bangladesh. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 13, Article 945802. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.945802
Almela-Baeza, J., Febrero, B., Pérez-Manzano, A., Bonache-Ibáñez, A., & Ramírez, P. (2021). Audiovisual content to promote women scientists on the YouTube channels of Spanish biosanitary research institutes. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(18), Article 9698. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18189698
Alnasser, A. H. A., Al-Tawfiq, J. A., Al Kalif, M. S. H., et al. (2020). The positive impact of social media on the level of COVID-19 awareness in Saudi Arabia: A web-based cross-sectional survey. Infezioni in Medicina, 28(4), 545–550. Scopus.
Anthony, R., Young, H., Hewitt, G., et al. (2023). Young people’s online communication and its association with mental well-being: Results from the 2019 student health and well-being survey. Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 28(1), 4–11. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1111/camh.12610
Caso, D., Schettino, G., Fabbricatore, R., & Conner, M. (2020). “Change my selfie”: Relationships between self-objectification and selfie-behavior in young Italian women. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 50(9), 538–549. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1111/jasp.12693
Chitra, E., Hidayah, N., Chandratilake, M., & Nadarajah, V. D. (2022). Self-regulated learning practice of undergraduate students in health professions programs. Frontiers in Medicine, 9, Article 803069. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2022.803069
De Gagne, J. C., Hall, K., Conklin, J. L., et al. (2019). Uncovering cyberincivility among nurses and nursing students on Twitter: A data mining study. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 89, 24–31. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2018.09.009
Gong, R., Zhang, Y., Long, R., et al. (2021). The impact of social network site addiction on depression in Chinese medical students: A serial multiple mediator model involving loneliness and unmet interpersonal needs. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(16), Article 8614. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18168614
Jameel, S., Shahnawaz, M. G., & Griffiths, M. D. (2019). Smartphone addiction in students: A qualitative examination of the components model of addiction using face-to-face interviews. Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 8(4), 780–793. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1556/2006.8.2019.57