THURSDAY, 20 OCTOBER 2011 00:00
By Aini Raudhah binti Roslam, graduate student, Security and Strategic Studies, UKM
BANGI, 20 Oct. 2011 - Researchers from the
School of Media and
Communications, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities (FSSH) in the
National University of Malaysia (UKM) have debunked the longtime belief
that youths and teenagers are addicted to Facebook.
Facebook is currently the most visited social media website in the world.
By May 2011 there were 666million users globally with Malaysians making up
10.4 million of whom 3.5 million are youths aged between 18 and 24.
By May 2011 there were 666million users globally with Malaysians making up
10.4 million of whom 3.5 million are youths aged between 18 and 24.
The researchers comprising Dr Normah Mustafa, Dr Wan Amizah Wan Mahmud,
Dr. Fauziah Ahmad, Dr Chang Peng Kee and Puan Maizatul Haizam Mahbob
presented their findings at the FSSH Monthly Seminar Series here today.
Dr. Fauziah Ahmad, Dr Chang Peng Kee and Puan Maizatul Haizam Mahbob
presented their findings at the FSSH Monthly Seminar Series here today.
Dr Normah who presented the findings on behalf of the group categorised
Facebook users into five groups, whom she termed as Innovators, Early
Adopters, Early Majority, Late Majority and Laggards.
Facebook users into five groups, whom she termed as Innovators, Early
Adopters, Early Majority, Late Majority and Laggards.
The research was carried out to find the level of popularity of Facebook among
youths, the purpose of usage and other factors that had influenced its usage,
she said.
youths, the purpose of usage and other factors that had influenced its usage,
she said.
The group used the Song, Larose, and Eastin categorisation in their 2004
research here those who used Facebook for more than 4 hours a day were
considered as addicts.
The research found that a majority of Malaysian youths spend less than
3 hours per day on Facebook. Being relatively new they were categorised as
‘late majority’. The main reason why they logged into Facebbok is to
communicate with their peers and to find old friends.
Peer pressure is also found to be a factor leading to its usage. They concluded
that its usage among youths is due to need rather than an addiction.
that its usage among youths is due to need rather than an addiction.
They group reasoned that its usage should not be misconstrued negatively
as its usage had some positive results like helping to improve family bonding
which is evident when some of the youth became closer to their parents when
they added their parents as “friends” on their walls. That had enabled them to
discuss with their parents certain things they had not been able to discuss
face to face.
Associate Professor Dr Fuziah Kartini Binti Hassan Basri from FSSH who
officiated the presentation reminded all internet users to be honest and
responsible when using the facility not just for Facebook but for all websites
especially since they were not supervised.She said usage of the new technology
comes with certain underlying values like honesty and responsibility which needed
to be upheld. 
