98.1% Believe that Social Media Plays a Major Role in Empowering Yemeni Youth

Sawt Al-Amal (Voice of Hope) – Yomna Ahmed

Social media now occupies a large part of our daily lives, and it has become difficult to dispense with it in communicating and interacting with others; because it provides us with an effective way to express our ideas and share the events of our lives and interests. It also enables us to stay up-to-date on the news and various developments and provides us with opportunities to learn and gain knowledge through the diverse content available on these platforms.

Despite all these benefits offered by social media, it has many disadvantages if it is not used in a balanced way. In addition to the fact that it may become a major cause of wasting time and distraction if we overuse it, it also makes us vulnerable to many dangers, such as loss of privacy, the possibility of exposure to electronic fraud, and exposure to problems such as bullying, electronic extortion, and the spread of fake news and misleading information. All of this may expose us to the risk of developing psychological and mental disorders.

Based on the foregoing, and to obtain more comprehensive answers about how social media affects the lives of Yemenis, the Information and Survey Unit at “Yemen Information Center” conducted a public opinion poll entitled “Social Media in Yemen”. The survey aimed to collect the opinions of a sample of Yemeni society about the impact of these sites on their daily lives and to understand and analyze their awareness of the impact of these sites on their digital security and their psychological and mental health. The survey also aims to determine the extent to which the participants are aware of how to have a sound digital presence on these sites.

The survey was conducted on a research sample of 153 people, most of whom were females at 73.6%, compared to 26.4% of males. The age groups of the participants varied, as 54.7% of them were young people between the ages of 18-25, 37.7% of them were between the ages of 26-35, and 5.7% of the participants were between the ages of 36-45, and only 1.9% for those between the ages of 45-65.

As for the educational qualification, most of the participants held a bachelor’s degree at 45.3%, followed by those with postgraduate degrees at 35.8%, then 13.2% for university students, and only 5.7% for those with a high school diploma. Regarding the geographical scope of the survey, the sample came from six Yemeni governorates, namely: Sana’a at 75.5%, Taiz at 11.3%, Hadhramout at 7.5%, and only 1.9% for each of Aden, Ibb, and Dhamar.

Main Results

Initially, the participants were asked whether social media has a positive impact on Yemeni society. 86.8% of them answered “yes” and confirmed that it has a significant positive impact. When asked about these effects or benefits, their answers were as follows:

• Empowering individuals to express their opinions and ideas (90.6%).

• Strengthening community awareness (73.6%).

• Increasing access and communication between individuals and communities (32.1%).

Meanwhile, 13.2% said that social media negatively affects Yemeni society and explained that it causes many more problems than benefits.

98.1% of the participants believe that social media plays a significant role in empowering Yemeni youth because it provides opportunities for communication, expression, and innovation. However, 1.9% believe otherwise.

Regarding women and the role of social media in their social and economic empowerment, 92.5% of the participants said that social media plays an important role in empowering women in Yemen. The following are some of the ways it does this:

• Contributing to raising awareness and highlighting the challenges facing women (84.9%).

• Providing women with the opportunity to express their opinions and exchange ideas (79.2%).

• Providing employment opportunities for women (28.3%).

7.5% of the participants said that social media does not contribute at all to the empowerment of Yemeni women.

When discussing the significant problems and challenges facing social media in Yemen, the responses of the survey participants were as follows:

• Weak internet infrastructure (90.6%).

• Restrictions and censorship imposed on the internet (56.6%).

• Exposure of users of these platforms to electronic blackmail and bullying (34%).

• Spread of rumors and false news (28.3%). • Lack of awareness of privacy and digital security (26.4%).

96.2% of the survey participants believe that there is an urgent need to enact legislation and policies to protect the privacy and digital security of users in Yemen, while 3.8% believe otherwise.

In conclusion, the survey participants agreed that social media is an effective means of communication, interaction, sharing ideas and information, and expressing opinions. It also provides opportunities for learning and professional development. However, it can also cause many problems if not used properly. They believe that it is necessary to spread awareness among Yemeni society about how to use these sites correctly and maintain their digital security on them. that it is necessary to spread awareness among the Yemeni community about how to use these sites properly and maintain their digital security on them.