Do Social Media Affect People in Saudi Arabia? Proposal

Contribution of the Study

With the advancement of technology which the world has witnessed in the 21^st century, there is no doubt that the impact of social media can be very by everybody around the globe.

Of significance is the massive use of the internet at work, home, learning institutions and businesses among other spheres of life. It is important to note that the massive use of the internet led to the discovery and adoption of several modes of communication. In other words, the basis of social media in any country solely depends on internet penetration.

The study, therefore, intends to unravel the truth behind social media in Saudi Arabia with regard to the mobile phones. This would be quite essential for a number of people in Saudi Arabia in Saudi Arabia, including but not limited to the government, business owners and investors. For the instance, the study will provide information covering the role of social media that has become fundamental in the 21^st century.

Consequently, business owners will be able to understand the how social media could be used as an advertising tool in promoting goods and services from various companies within the country and around the world. Young entrepreneurs will also be informed through the study, on how to tap the power of social media in business projects and in ensuring that their business plans go beyond Saudi Arabian boundaries.

Lastly, the study will provide information on the dangers of using social media as an advertising tool in business. This will go a long way in guarding against risks, which are associated with social media marketing. Besides benefits and risks of using social media in advertising, the study also intends to provide information about cost implications, which accompany the incorporation of social media as a marketing tool.

In general, immense contribution is expected from the study, by the fact that social media has drawn the attention of millions of people in Saudi Arabia and other parts of the world. The findings will also answer some of the questions that have not been addressed by previous scholars and researchers who have attempted to analyze the issue of the impact of social media in Saudi Arabia.

Research Questions

This study seeks to provide answers to several questions, which are aimed at addressing issues surrounding social media and its application in advertising.

By answering the questions, the study will give a guide on the kind of information to be sourced in order to eliminate the possibility of researching beyond the scope of the topic or surveying insufficient information, which does not address the topic in depth. The following are the questions which the study will be answering:

1. How has social media evolved in Saudi Arabia?
2. How has social media been adopted in Saudi Arabia?
3. How do Saudi Arabians view social media in relation to advertising and mobile phones?
4. What are the benefits of social media in business?
5. What are the disadvantages of social media?
6. What is the future of social media in Saudi Arabia in light of the advancing technology?

Research Objectives

In addressing the issue of social media in Saudi Arabia, the study will be inclined towards achieving the following objectives to guarantee the relevance and target of the entire study. Additionally, these research objectives are important as they will guide literature review and methodology sections that will come later. Below are the research objectives:

1. To find out how social media has evolved in Saudi Arabia with regard to improvement of technology, use of mobile phones and its purpose in the society.
2. To assess how social media has been received by Saudi Arabians in relation to people’s perception it.
3. To analyze the impact of social media in Saudi Arabia, benefits, costs and risks associated with this technology especially when used as an advertising tool.
4. To evaluate the future position of social media in Saudi Arabia.

Literature Review

Social media is one of the topics that have received massive coverage. As a result, several scholars, authors and researchers have devoted their time in analyzing this issue and its impact in Saudi Arabia. These findings have been compiled in books, journals and website articles, which have become quite important in synthesizing this issue and making future projections concerning existing trends and impact of social media in Saudi Arabia.

This study intends to use reputable academic articles and books that are current in order to have a clear understanding of the issue and meet the objectives of the study as outlined in the previous segment.

One of the articles to be used during the study has been authored by Joshua Teitelbaum in February this year. The article captures several issues that are relevant in addressing several needs of the study. A core subject covered in the article is the relationship between social media and the government (Teitelbaum 2011).

Although the focus of the article is the government’s strained position towards social networks like Facebook and Twitter, it is possible to capture several segments of this study. This article can be used in addressing the challenges of using social media in advertising.

As a matter of fact, the information would be important in helping Saudi Arabians to be prepared for some of the risks associated with social media as a tool of marketing. Having been published early this year, the article addresses up-to-date information in an organized manner.

Another important source of information for this study is based on a 2008 survey done by Oxford Business Group. In the book, The Report: Saudi Arabia 2008, the author focuses on transitions which the country has witnessed in terms of advancement in technology (Oxford Business Group 2008).

This information will be important in addressing the trends and future opportunities for social media in the Saudi Arabian business market. The book also records how firms and business organizations are turning to social networks as their advertising tools. Some of the challenges facing social media have been discussed.

Moreover, Macy and Thompson’s book will be used in finding solutions to some of the research questions and meeting stated objectives; authored in 2010, the book cuts across social media issues, including current marketing strategies, communication through the internet and the use of the internet in business marketing (Macy & Thompson 2010).

Apart from the mentioned sources, Temporal Paul’s survey will be helpful in understanding the effect of social media in Saudi Arabia. The book’s focal point is how social media has opened the Islamic world to the rest of the world for business marketing (Temporal 2011). Business opportunities which have emerged are also discussed in the book, qualifying it to be a good companion in achieving this study’s objectives.

Lastly, several articles from “Digital Media Across Asia” website will be resourceful in discussing the topic. The website carries articles, which address among others, social media habits and crucial facts and figures regarding social media (Digital Media Across Asia 2008).

These will be essential in understanding the concept in a more contextual manner. Generally, the academic articles and books which will be consulted are relevant and cover recent trends in Saudi Arabia’s social media.

Research Methodology

Data and information that will be used in this study will be collected through secondary and primary methods of data collection. Secondary methods will mainly involve the use of academic articles and books, which have been written by reputable authors and with current information that addresses how social media impacts Saudi Arabia.

It is worth noting that the study will adopt the phenomenology philosophy in finding solutions to questions posed. The main reason why this method of research will be used is to identify a certain phenomenon in Saudi Arabia and explore how it is perceived by the public. This phenomenon is social media whose impact is to be evaluated.

For this approach to be effective in the entire synthesis, several steps will be incorporated during in-depth gathering of information that is relevant in addressing the objectives of the study. In souring this information, perceptions of Saudi Arabians will be sought regarding social media and its impact in business marketing.

Inductive and qualitative methods like interviews and discussions will be used to find the views of Saudi Arabians in answering relevant questions. While using inductive methods in data collection, emphasis will be placed on justifying theoretical viewpoints recorded by different authors and analysts who have done their researches before.

The above proposed methods are appropriate in addressing the issue of social media and its impact in Saudi Arabia. This is because the study will have a wider spectrum of research approach that will involve gathering information from literature before backing it with current facts, which will be obtained through interviews.

In order to realize valuable information and data from the interviews, posed questions will resemble the study questions listed above. Analysis of data will involve simple statistical methods as a way of adding value to collected information. Additionally, selection of the respondents will be essential in finding realistic information concerning the topic of study.

Several respondents will be considered for interviews, including businessmen, managers, information technology experts and young entrepreneurs. Government’s officials from the department of commerce or information and communication will also be considered in order have a taste of how leaders view social media in the country and their stance concerning the future of social media with ever-advancing internet technology.

Data and information from the academic sources listed under references will be essential in developing a comparison basis that will help in finding existing differences and similarities between what has been documented and the current situation concerning the issue.

References

Digital Media Across Asia 2008, Interesting Stuff about Saudi Arabia. Web.

Macy, B & Thompson, T 2010, The Power of Real-Time Social Media Marketing: How to Attract and Retain Customers and Grow the Bottom Line in the Globally Connected World, McGraw-Hill Professional, New York City.

Oxford Business Group 2008, The Report: Saudi Arabia 2008, Oxford Business Group, London.

Teitelbaum, J 2011, ‘Saudi Arabia Contends with the Social Media Challenge’, Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, vol. 10, no. 28, p. 1.

Temporal, P 2011, Islamic Branding and Marketing: Creating A Global Islamic Business, John Wiley and Sons, Hoboken, New Jersey.