Pilot study : facebook use among marginalized segments of the Palestinian community -

Abstract

The purpose of the present research was to understand what motivates young Palestinians in refugee camps in Beirut to use Facebook, and, more specifically, what personal and social needs their Facebook use satisfies. This research also aimed to discover whether young Palestinians’ use of Facebook helps them to maintain connections with their homeland, and the differences gender plays in Facebook use. Grounded in Uses and Gratifications Theory (UGT), a quantitative approach was employed in order to learn about such patterns of use. Surveys were used as a method of data collection. The study results showed that young Palestinians in refugee camps use Facebook to obtain information about Palestine, to escape from the camp, to gain a sense of belonging with others, and for entertainment.