Master’s Degree Awarded to Ms. Zamzam Ghames
Ms. Zamzam Abdullah Saleh Ghames was awarded a Master’s degree with an average of (Excellent) and a grade of 95% for her thesis titled “The Effectiveness of Yemeni Youth’s Use of Social Media Networks and Its Reflections on Their Social Relationships.”, which was submitted to the Radio and Television Department, Faculty of Mass Communication – Sana’a University. The defense was held on Monday, 1/11/1446 Hijri, corresponding to April 28, 2025.
The MA Viva-voce Committee, which was formed based on a resolution issued by the Post-Graduate Studies and Scientific Research Council, consisted of the following members:
- Abdulbasit Al-Hutami (Supervisor and Chairman),
- Mohammed Al-Faqih (Internal Examiner), and
- Hussein Dejrah (External Examiner).
The thesis aimed to:
- Identify the relationship between the intensity of Yemeni youth’s use of social media networks and the gratifications achieved from this use.
- Examine the impact of the intensity of social media network usage on family relationships, neighborhood relations, and professional/collegial relationships.
- Identify demographic differences in the intensity of use, achieved gratifications, and the level of perceived social presence through social media networks.
The thesis reached several key findings, including:
- Most young people spend more than 3 hours daily on social media networks, with WhatsApp ranking first, followed by YouTube and Instagram.
- Communication with family and friends was the primary motivation, with utilitarian motives outweighing ritualistic and social ones.
- The impact of usage enhanced communication with family and friends but led to a decline in real-world interaction and a decrease in family visits.
In her thesis, the researcher concluded with a number of recommendations, including:
- Promoting conscious use of social media networks through the launch of awareness campaigns to enhance face-to-face meetings and direct interaction.
- Encouraging the exploitation of networks to achieve informational gratifications, such as continuous learning and the development of professional skills.
- Raising awareness on how to use social media networks in a way that serves Islamic and societal values.
The thesis was examined and recommended by the Viva-Voce Committee for acceptance and approval. The defense was attended by a number of academics, researchers, students, and interested individuals, in addition to the candidate’s colleagues and family members.
