The role of Social Media in Egypt's Arab Spring

[Name of the Institute]ACKNOWLEDGMENT

I would like to thank everyone who helped my completing my dissertation on the time including my supervisor, my teachers, my family and my friends. It is that without their efforts this research would not be possible.

DECLARATION

The dissertation submitted is the result of an individual effort and investigation, except where it is stated otherwise. The title of this dissertation and the depth have not been accepted by any degree neither it is being concurrently submitted for other degree.

Name

____________________________

Signature

___________________________

ABSTRACT

The objective of this research is investigate the role social media is playing in Egypt's Arab spring. The research has been analyzed by investigating the role of different social networking websites such as Facebook, Youtube and Twitter in bringing the revolution in Arab countries. The findings indicate that most of people who were actively engaged in the Egypt's Arab spring are in their late twenties and early thirties, while showing the significance level with social networking websites. Moreover, the study states that social media plays significant role in promoting and encouraging the political discussion among the people in Arab countries. In addition to that, social media also greatly influences the perception of people in Arab countries and thus social media and social networking websites play significant role in encouraging participation in Egypt's Arab Spring. While the most important role social media is playing is by bringing freedom to participation in Egypt's Arab Spring.

Table of Content

ACKNOWLEDGMENTi

DECLARATIONii

ABSTRACTiii

LIST OF TABLESvi

LIST OF FIGURESvii

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION1

1.1 Research Background1

1.1.1The role of Facebook Page “We are all Khaled Said”2

1.2 Research Aim and Objectives3

1.3 Research Questions3

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW5

2.1 Emergence of Social Media5

2.2 Adopting Communication Technologies5

2.3 The Social Media6

2.4 Social Media Tools for Sharing8

2.5 Enabling Interactions10

2.6 Role of Media in Influencing Perceptions11

2.6.1 Electronic Word of Mouth13

2.7 Social Media and Electronic Word of Mouth14

2.8 Arab World and Social Media16

2.8.1 Not Cyber activism Newbie18

2.8.2 Reason for Protests in 201119

CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY21

3.1 Research Design21

3.2 Quantitative Research22

3.3 Primary Research24

3.4 Sample24

3.4.1 Sample Size25

3.4.2 Sampling Method25

3.5 Questionnaire25

3.5.1 Likert Scale27

3.5.2 Survey Methods27

3.5.3 Validity and Reliability of Questionnaire28

CHAPTER 4: ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION31

4.1 Analysis of Survey Questionnaire31

4.1.1 Are you currently Using Social Networking Websites?31

4.1.2 Gender33

4.1.3 Age35

4.1.4 Level of Education36

4.1.5 Language37

4.1.6 Reasons of Using Social Networking Websites39

4.1.7 Social Media and Freedom of Participation in Politics (Prior to Egypt's Arab Spring)41

4.1.8 Social Media and Freedom of Participation in Politics (During Egypt's Arab Spring)43

4.1.9 Scale of agreement that social networking websites promote and encourage political discussion.44

4.1.10 Scale of agreement that social networking websites encourages participation in Egypt's Arab Spring.45

4.1.11 Scale of agreement that social networking result in bringing freedom to participation.46

4.2 Discussion47

CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION49

REFERENCES50

BIBLOGRAPHY54

APPENDIX56

QUESTIONNAIRE56

List of Tables

Table 1: Case Processing Summary of Validity and Reliability Test29

Table 2: Reliability Statistics and Cronbach's Alpha of Questionnaire30

Table 3: Social Networking Website Views - Usage, Frequencies and Percentages31

Table 4: Social Networking Website Views - Gender33

Table 5: Social Networking Website Views - Age Group, Frequencies and Percentages35

Table 6: Social Networking Website Views - Education, Frequencies and Percentages36

Table 7: Social Networking Website Views - Language, Frequencies and Percentages37

Table ...