Managing anxiety and uncertainty through social networking sites, how effectively can youth communicate online?

This study examines the usage patterns of social networking sites among Malaysian youths and their Anxiety/Uncertainty Management levels. According to the anxiety and uncertainty management theory, members of a group should be cooperative, trustworthy, tolerant of diversity, and happy in order to af...

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Main Authors: Bolong, Jusang, Sahharon, Hamizah, Omar, Siti Zobidah, Mohamed, Shazleen, Nordin Selat, Dewi Seribayu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Penerbit Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia 2024
Online Access:http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/117069/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/117069/1/117069.pdf
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author Bolong, Jusang
Sahharon, Hamizah
Omar, Siti Zobidah
Mohamed, Shazleen
Nordin Selat, Dewi Seribayu
author_facet Bolong, Jusang
Sahharon, Hamizah
Omar, Siti Zobidah
Mohamed, Shazleen
Nordin Selat, Dewi Seribayu
author_sort Bolong, Jusang
building UPM Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description This study examines the usage patterns of social networking sites among Malaysian youths and their Anxiety/Uncertainty Management levels. According to the anxiety and uncertainty management theory, members of a group should be cooperative, trustworthy, tolerant of diversity, and happy in order to affect their membership attitude and behavior. These days, youth choose to spend their time on social networking sites since they provide an effective virtual community platform for communication. Malaysian youths exhibit a nuanced understanding of personal and social identity, motivation to interact, reactions to others, social categorizations, situational processes, connection to others, ethical interactions, and overall communication effectiveness. This study surveyed 600 respondents, the findings highlight a deep-rooted integration of digital communication into the daily lives of Malaysian youths, with a significant majority having extensive experience of 11 to 20 years on SNS platforms. SNS platforms significantly reduced communication uncertainty, fostering positive relationships and smoother communication through active, passive, and interactive strategies. Locality plays a crucial role in anxiety and uncertainty management, with rural youths demonstrating better management compared to their urban counterparts, attributed to stronger social cohesion, tighter networks, and communal lifestyles. The study suggests that addressing anxiety and uncertainty can improve communication quality in virtual settings, particularly in rural areas. Social media can promote cultural integration and acceptance among diverse groups. A balanced approach to communication, emphasizing ethical interactions, can maximize its benefits. The findings can be used to design targeted interventions and promote positive digital engagement practices among Malaysian youths.
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spelling upm-1170692025-05-29T07:41:49Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/117069/ Managing anxiety and uncertainty through social networking sites, how effectively can youth communicate online? Bolong, Jusang Sahharon, Hamizah Omar, Siti Zobidah Mohamed, Shazleen Nordin Selat, Dewi Seribayu This study examines the usage patterns of social networking sites among Malaysian youths and their Anxiety/Uncertainty Management levels. According to the anxiety and uncertainty management theory, members of a group should be cooperative, trustworthy, tolerant of diversity, and happy in order to affect their membership attitude and behavior. These days, youth choose to spend their time on social networking sites since they provide an effective virtual community platform for communication. Malaysian youths exhibit a nuanced understanding of personal and social identity, motivation to interact, reactions to others, social categorizations, situational processes, connection to others, ethical interactions, and overall communication effectiveness. This study surveyed 600 respondents, the findings highlight a deep-rooted integration of digital communication into the daily lives of Malaysian youths, with a significant majority having extensive experience of 11 to 20 years on SNS platforms. SNS platforms significantly reduced communication uncertainty, fostering positive relationships and smoother communication through active, passive, and interactive strategies. Locality plays a crucial role in anxiety and uncertainty management, with rural youths demonstrating better management compared to their urban counterparts, attributed to stronger social cohesion, tighter networks, and communal lifestyles. The study suggests that addressing anxiety and uncertainty can improve communication quality in virtual settings, particularly in rural areas. Social media can promote cultural integration and acceptance among diverse groups. A balanced approach to communication, emphasizing ethical interactions, can maximize its benefits. The findings can be used to design targeted interventions and promote positive digital engagement practices among Malaysian youths. Penerbit Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia 2024 Article PeerReviewed text en http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/117069/1/117069.pdf Bolong, Jusang and Sahharon, Hamizah and Omar, Siti Zobidah and Mohamed, Shazleen and Nordin Selat, Dewi Seribayu (2024) Managing anxiety and uncertainty through social networking sites, how effectively can youth communicate online? Jurnal Komunikasi: Malaysian Journal of Communication, 40 (3). pp. 465-483. ISSN 2289-151X; eISSN: 2289-1528 https://ejournal.ukm.my/mjc/article/view/78460 10.17576/jkmjc-2024-4003-27
spellingShingle Bolong, Jusang
Sahharon, Hamizah
Omar, Siti Zobidah
Mohamed, Shazleen
Nordin Selat, Dewi Seribayu
Managing anxiety and uncertainty through social networking sites, how effectively can youth communicate online?
title Managing anxiety and uncertainty through social networking sites, how effectively can youth communicate online?
title_full Managing anxiety and uncertainty through social networking sites, how effectively can youth communicate online?
title_fullStr Managing anxiety and uncertainty through social networking sites, how effectively can youth communicate online?
title_full_unstemmed Managing anxiety and uncertainty through social networking sites, how effectively can youth communicate online?
title_short Managing anxiety and uncertainty through social networking sites, how effectively can youth communicate online?
title_sort managing anxiety and uncertainty through social networking sites, how effectively can youth communicate online?
url http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/117069/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/117069/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/117069/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/117069/1/117069.pdf