Beyond Passive Use: Understanding Malaysian Youth Motivations for Social Networking Site Use
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33102/jcicom.vol6no1.158Keywords:
Uses and Gratification, Youth, Wellbeing, Social Media, MotivationAbstract
Social media has emerged as a universal force that profoundly affects the lives of youth. It provides new possibilities for connection, communication, and self-expression through the rise of digital media platforms. Based on Uses and Gratification theory, this study aims to understand the underlying motivations for youth to use social networking sites (SNS). Semi-structured interviews were held with twenty Malaysian youth aged 16-18 years old, examining their use of social networking sites (SNS) and exploring their motivations for using SNS. Thematic analysis reveals four themes explaining youths’ motivations for using SNS, related to parental governance and self-regulation, emotional regulation, entertainment and social comparison. The findings reframe youth from being passive, vulnerable consumers of social media into active, highly strategic, and self-regulating agents. It shows that youth simultaneously utilize social media for hedonic needs such as escapism and mood management from stress and functional needs including informational searches and acquiring soft skills such as public speaking through observational learning.
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