Social Media Use and Omani Identity among School Students in the Sultanate of Oman: A Descriptive Correlational Study in Light of Gender, Grade Level, and Educational Governorate

Abstract

Write This study aimed to identify the level of social media use and the level of Omani identity among school students in the Sultanate of Oman, examine the relationship between the two variables, and investigate differences in both variables according to gender, grade level, and educational governorate. To achieve the study objectives, a descriptive correlational approach was employed. The study was conducted on a sample of 1199 male and female students in Grades 9–12 in government schools in the Sultanate of Oman, who were selected using convenience sampling through the electronic distribution of the study instrument and voluntary student participation. Two scales were used: the first measured social media use, and the second measured Omani identity. The validity and reliability of both scales were verified using appropriate psychometric procedures. Arithmetic means and standard deviations, the independent-samples t-test, one-way analysis of variance (One-Way ANOVA), the Games–Howell post hoc test, and Pearson’s correlation coefficient were used to answer the research questions.

The results showed that the level of social media use among school students in the Sultanate of Oman was moderate, whereas the level of Omani identity was high. The results also revealed a weak negative statistically significant correlation between social media use and Omani identity. No statistically significant differences were found in the level of social media use attributable to gender or grade level, whereas statistically significant differences were found according to educational governorate in favor of some governorates. The results further showed no statistically significant differences in the level of Omani identity attributable to gender or educational governorate, while statistically significant differences were found according to grade level, in favor of students in Grades 9, 11, and 12 compared with Grade 10 students.

In light of these findings, the study recommended strengthening educational programs and activities aimed at promoting Omani identity among students, guiding them toward the conscious and responsible use of social media, and producing engaging national digital content that reinforces the values of citizenship and belonging. It also recommended conducting future studies to examine the factors influencing the relationship between social media use and Omani identity.