The Role of Local Satellite Channels in Social Development of The Emirati Society A Survey Study on a Sample of UAE Audience

The paper investigates the contributions of TV Social Programs in UAE channels in promoting the social changes among youths in UAE, and to what extent it effects their attitudes towards the society and its values and traditions. The study used the expecting value model and the third person effect concept in analyzing the perceptions of the UAE＇s youths towards the practices of local channels. The sample of the study was 200 male and female from several emirates. The study concluded that 88% of the audience in UAE watch the UAE satellite channels. Dubai channel comes in the top most watched channels, followed by Sharjah Channel, then Abu Dhabi channel. Most of the audience watch these channels in their homes. 78% of the audience watch the TV social programs. The most watched program is Khatwa program in Abd Dhabi channels, followed by shabnaa program. The reasons for watching the social programs are： finding relieve from their problems （66%）, the diversity of these programs （64%）, and the popularity of social programs＇ anchors （5%）. The most discussed issues are Youths problems and unemployment （91%）, local problems （73%）, divorce issues （31%）. They said that these programs encourages for persevering the local heritage （62%）, respect the family values （51%）, and social traditions （48%）. While the most positive features of the social programs are： promote the local anchors （90%）, the most negative features are promoting the western values （94%）, and discussing some issues which are not fit with the local traditions （88%）. In general the study found that the local TV channels played an important role in social changes in UAE.

Uses of Social Networking Sites and Satisfactions Achieved by Emirati Youth： A Field Study on a Sample of Sharjah University Students

The study, throughout the usage of Emirati youth for the social networking sites and satisfactions achieved, illustrated that the nature of those networks is considered a rapidly developing method of communication, which is accompanied by attempts to impose a number of short abbreviated vocabulary to be used among the youth. Since social networking sites represent one of the most significant tremendous development aspects of information technology, which reached its peak during the last decade, the researcher considered the importance of conducting this study in order to know the impact of social networking sites on the youth through Intemet, blogs and chat rooms, as well as attempting to confront them and making them aware of their importance in their daily lives. Accordingly, the study has focused on a random category of youth, whose ages are ranging between 17-21 years old of university students, as being the highest category of usage. Results revealed the following： A high percentage of Emirati youth 77.5% mentioned that they ＂always＂ use those sites; the percentage of males, who ＂always＂ use social media reached 38.5% while the percentage of females reached 61, since the meaningful value reached 0.05〉0.044, which indicated that WhatsApp, YouTube, Twitter and Facebook are the most commonly used social media by the study individuals. Most of the study individuals use the social networking sites daily 84%, and there are statistically significant differences between males and females in terms of the times of using social media. A high percentage of the Emirati youth uses Internet for more than three hours daily; especially in the evenings, and there are not statistically significant differences between males and females in terms of the most common periods in which social media are used, and the most common age groups of using social media from one year and more range between 17-20. ＂Home＂ is the most favorite place of using social media （85.40% mentioned that）. Most of the study individuals can make a balance between spending time on Internet and spending time with people outside the world of Internet. The percentage of those, who mentioned that social networking sites affected them positively, was higher than the percentage of the ones, who mentioned that the social media affected them negatively. Among the most prominent usages of social media by the Emirati youth are： staying informed about news and current events, while most of them focused on chatting, followed by sharing photos and images. Most of the sample of study mentioned that the youth are just readers, who comment on what is shared and posted on the social media. The most prominent motives of the Emirati youth for using social media are represented in obtaining information, and communicating with others, which came on top of the motives relevant to the usage of social media, followed by entertainment, education, followed by various motives, including routine etc. Some of the most significant satisfactions achieved through using the social networking sites by the Emirati youth are entertainment and spending leisure time with others.