The Role of Social Networks in Forming Social Relations among University Students

With the advent of the Internet, social networking sites have spread, and their number has increased dramatically. The number of its users, especially school and university students, who use these sites for social communication and entertainment for obtaining information and exchanging experiences with their peers has increased. The study aimed to identify the role of social networks in forming social relations among students of private universities. The study used the descriptive analytical method. The study population consisted of all students of three private universities. A random sample of 530 students was chosen to answer a questionnaire. The study revealed that students enjoy the freedom to use social networks. Also, it is inferred that social networks have become a source of news as they compete with traditional means of communication. In addition, students using social networks has many negatives, including wasting time and effort, distorting facts, and spreading rumors. In contrast, they have many advantages, including making new friends, communicating with friends and relatives, and exchanging opinions. Furthermore, the study showed that social networks achieve cognitive satisfaction by providing students with information about the world. It is believed that they satisfy the desire for curiosity by 80% and cognitive needs by 77%. In light of the results, the study recommends the necessity of using social networks by educational institutions to achieve psychological, social, and cognitive gratification for students.