Cultural persistence and change in university students' social networking motives and problematic use.

ABSTRACT: This cross-cultural study assessed the problematic use and motivations of social networking sites (SNS) among university students in China, Malawi, and the UK. A sample of 975 students completed the 10-item WeChat Excessive Use Scale and 20-item measure of SNS motivations across friendship, convenience, social support, information, and entertainment dimensions. Results showed that SNS problematic use was significantly lower in the individualistic UK compared to collectivistic China and Malawi. Critical cultural differences also emerged in usage motivations. Chinese and Malawian youth scored higher on social motivations like friendship and support compared to the UK. However, the entertainment motive was associated with the problematic use of SNS across all groups, reflecting the globalised

SUBMITTER: Ndasauka Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10834795 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature