Youth Participation in Social Networking Sites (SNSs) in Bangladesh: A Study on Impact of Changing Patterns of Communication and Interpersonal Relationship on Personal Life

Abstract

The present study shades some light on the changing patterns of communication and interpersonal relationship of youth of Bangladesh through Social Networking Sites (SNSs) and their impact on the personal life of them. To date there has not been a study in Bangladesh which directly analyze SNSs role in the changing patterns of communication and interpersonal relationship of youth of Bangladesh. The present study focuses on three aspects: 1) SNSs uses patterns among youth of Bangladesh 2) SNSs role in changing patterns of communication and interpersonal relationship on personal life of the youth of Bangladesh 3) SNSs impact on the personal life of youth of Bangladesh. To fulfill the objectives of the study, two groups of university students were assembled: 1) SNSs user group (students who are using only Face book as SNS) 2) SNSs non-user group (students who are not using any SNS). The study draws an overall picture of SNSs uses pattern of university students of Bangladesh qualitatively. The qualitative data is also supplemented by quantitative data. Data have been collected by means of interviews. University of Rajshahi has been selected as the location of the present study. 90 students (45 from the users' group and 45 from the non-users' group) of this university have been interviewed using structured and semi-structured questionnaires respectively. The study charts the impact of SNSs by comparing family relationship, love affairs, friendship, study habit, social interaction, entertainment/time-passing habit and sleep time of SNSs user group and the non-user group. The data is presented in tables and figures. The differences in above seven issues between the two groups are then analyzed. The findings of the study suggest that traditional interpersonal relationship patterns with friends, families and boyfriends/girlfriends are enjoying a colossal change with the elusive touch of SNSs. The study reveals that SNSs have a positive impact on the social interaction of university students of Bangladesh. On the other hand, the findings also show that, SNSs impact adversely on the traditional study, sleeping and entertainment habit of the young users. The result of the study clearly indicates that, SNSs impacts negatively on the traditional interpersonal relationship patterns of the youth of Bangladesh. The study suggests that new media literacy is essential for the youth of Bangladesh so that they can understand its positive and negative impact.