Socializing on the Internet: Case Study of Internet Use Among University Students in the United Arab Emirates

Abstract

This paper analyzes socializing on the Internet and attitudes towards the Internet as a medium of social interaction among university students in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It stems from a larger research project conducted at seven different institutions of higher education in the Abu Dhabi Emirate in 2009 through anonymous questionnaires.

A total of 571 students (353 female, 183 male) participated in the survey.

Keywords

• socializing
• social networks
• United Arab Emirates
• Abu Dhabi
• internet usage
• virtual identity
• gender aspects
• computer-mediated communication