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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Published in:JURNAL KOMUNIKASI-MALAYSIAN JOURNAL OF COMMUNICATION
Main Authors: Sahharon, Hamizah; Bolong, Jusang; Omar, Siti zobidah; Mohamed, Shazleen; Selat, Dewi Seribayu Nordin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: NATL UNIV MALAYSIA, FAC SOCIAL SCIENCES & HUMANITIES 2024
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www-webofscience-com.uitm.idm.oclc.org/wos/woscc/full-recordWOS:001362920500027
author Sahharon
Hamizah; Bolong
Jusang; Omar
Siti zobidah; Mohamed
Shazleen; Selat
Dewi Seribayu Nordin
spellingShingle Sahharon
Hamizah; Bolong
Jusang; Omar
Siti zobidah; Mohamed
Shazleen; Selat
Dewi Seribayu Nordin
Managing Anxiety and Uncertainty Through Social Networking Sites, How Effectively Can Youth Communicate Online?
Communication
author_facet Sahharon
Hamizah; Bolong
Jusang; Omar
Siti zobidah; Mohamed
Shazleen; Selat
Dewi Seribayu Nordin
author_sort Sahharon
spelling Sahharon, Hamizah; Bolong, Jusang; Omar, Siti zobidah; Mohamed, Shazleen; Selat, Dewi Seribayu Nordin
Managing Anxiety and Uncertainty Through Social Networking Sites, How Effectively Can Youth Communicate Online?
JURNAL KOMUNIKASI-MALAYSIAN JOURNAL OF COMMUNICATION
English
Article
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.
NATL UNIV MALAYSIA, FAC SOCIAL SCIENCES & HUMANITIES
2289-151X
2289-1528
2024
40
3
10.17576/JKMJC-2024-4003-27
Communication
Bronze
WOS:001362920500027
https://www-webofscience-com.uitm.idm.oclc.org/wos/woscc/full-recordWOS:001362920500027
title 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_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_sort Managing Anxiety and Uncertainty Through Social Networking Sites, How Effectively Can Youth Communicate Online?
container_title JURNAL KOMUNIKASI-MALAYSIAN JOURNAL OF COMMUNICATION
language English
format Article
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.
publisher NATL UNIV MALAYSIA, FAC SOCIAL SCIENCES & HUMANITIES
issn 2289-151X
2289-1528
publishDate 2024
container_volume 40
container_issue 3
doi_str_mv 10.17576/JKMJC-2024-4003-27
topic Communication
topic_facet Communication
accesstype Bronze
id WOS:001362920500027
url https://www-webofscience-com.uitm.idm.oclc.org/wos/woscc/full-recordWOS:001362920500027
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