The Role of Digital Social Networks in formation of Public Opinion Trends among Students

Abstract

The objectives of the study are summarized to know the rates of Jordanian university students’ usage to the digital social networks, and finding out the factors that influencing the formation of public opinion trends among students, and the level of social networking competition for traditional media adoption as sources of news and information. The two researchers used the descriptive approach by designing questionnaire to survey the views of the students, and gathering facts and information and then analyze it. The study concluded several findings that highlighted the widespread use of social networking among students, and these networks have become a source of access to news and information that would influence the formation of public opinion, and compete with traditional media and online journalism. Some information resulted positively, such as strengthening the national spirit and loyalty, and others negatively, such as an attempt to link current events in the neighboring countries with the internal situation, doubting the credibility of local and semi-official media broadcast, stirring up demonstration or protest or strike, and using the religious factor to provoke the behavior of the community or calling to boycott all activities and events which government urged to.