Online Bonding and Bridging Social Capital via Social Networking Sites

Abstract

This research aimed to explore types of online social capital bridging and bonding that the Emiratis perceive in the context of social networking site SNS usage. A snow-ball sample of 230 Emiratis from two Emirates, Abu Dhabi and Dubai was used. The results showed that WhatsApp was the most frequent SNS used by the respondents. Also, a significant correlation of the intensity of social networking usage and bridging social capital was found, while there was no significant association between SNS usage and bonding social capital. The factors determined the SNSs usage motivations among the respondents were: Exchange of information, Sociability, Accessibility, and Connections with overseas friends and families. Males were more likely than females to connect with Arab non-Emiratis and online bonding social capital. Both genders were the same in their SNSs motivations and online bridging social capital.