The Effects of Social Networking Sites on an Individual’s Daily Routine

Abstract The usage of social networking sites by the people today has increased tremendously intrigued by the convenience of technologies be it children or elders. The connection between social networking sites and how it affects an individual’s daily routine has been investigated during this research. Twenty (20) International Medical University students consisting of 10 males and 10 females majoring from various health science programs were given a copy of the questionnaire. Participants filled in the questions honestly according to their personal experiences. These findings suggested that social networking sites have an impact on an individual’s daily routine. Thus, hypothesis is accepted.

Introduction
The rise of digital media has been widely regarded as transforming the nature of our social experience in the twenty–first century. The speed with which new forms of connectivity and communication are being incorporated into our everyday lives often gives us little time to stop and consider the social implications of those practices. Nonetheless, it is critically important that we do so, and this sociological introduction to the field of digital technologies is intended to enable a deeper understanding of their prominent role in everyday life. (Adrian Athique (2013).Digital Media and Society: An Introduction). Emerging numbers of social networking in the twenty-first century has become substitution of real social life experience among university students. The usage of the various popular social networking sites nowadays becomes a must for everyone. We are about to conduct a research to prove that the rapidly usage of the social sites had somehow affected individual’s daily routine. The decreasing potential of meeting people outside the social sites is slowly turning them to become lonely person.
Although previous research has identified numerous reasons why individuals use friend networking sites, it appears that some of these reported reasons are actually assessing the same underlying dimension. For example, reasons such as “to keep in touch with old friends” and “to keep in touch with current friends” are reasons that appear to be conceptually related. Therefore, this experiment sought to identify the uses and gratifications that are conceptually similar. In order to do so, the present study utilizes the uses and gratifications perspective. For extensive reviews on this perspective. (Bonds-Raacke, J. (2010). MySpace and Facebook: Identifying Dimensions of Uses and Gratifications for Friend Networking Sites. Individual Differences Research, 8(1), 27-33.) They have rather to use online social sites than using real conversation. We had conducted a research on how the social networking sites (SNSs) affected individual’s daily routine among 20 students from International Medical University, Malaysia. These participants were chosen randomly to get more variety data. Based on the previous research conducted regarding on this issue, the researcher found that all independent variables involved in the research had positive correlation to the individual’s daily routine.
However, the research was comparing mainly between MySpace of USA and Cyworld of Korea. Furthermore, it did not include individual differences that potentially influence SNS adoption as factors in SNS acceptance (e.g. demographics, user experience, personal characteristics, etc.). (Dong-Hee, S. (2010). Analysis of online social networks: A cross-national study. Online Information Review, 34(3), 473-495. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/14684521011054080).
For our very own research, we tried to focus on the implications of these SNSs towards normal life relationship and how much time the participants had attached to the SNSs. Our hypothesis is the more our participants use social networking sites, the more impact is being caused to their daily routines. We cannot agree more to the fact that the SNSs are the most influential types of communication medium in today’s world but we should not forget the importance of conventional communication ways too.

Methods
Participants
Twenty (20) young adults age ranging in between 19 to 25 years old (10 men and 10 women) were recruited from the International Medical University located at Jalan Perkasa Jalil, Bukit Jalil. Twenty participants majoring from various health sciences took part in this research activity (e.g. Psychology, Medicine, Dental, Nursing, Chinese Medicine and Chiropractic). Participants for the study were selected to answer questions on how social networking sites are affecting an individual’s daily routine. All participants were requested to answer the questions in the questionnaires provided truthfully.
Materials
We used the survey method as our research method. The survey is more of a descriptive research method. The type of survey method which we used in our research is an established questionnaire adapted from Dong-Hee, Shin (2010). The reason why we used this survey method is because surveys are useful to collect data on matter that cannot be directly observed. The questionnaires that used were well structured and easy to be understood. The natures of the questionnaires were simple in order to avoid ambiguous response from our participants. Our questionnaires collect data on how social networking sites are affecting an individual’s daily routine. All participants were provided with the same type of questionnaire in order to avoid response biasness. There were eleven (11) sets of questions in the questionnaire. The questionnaires were prepared in a Microsoft Word document and the total number of words used was approximately 400 words. Our participants were given a set of the questionnaire which was folded and inserted in an envelope.
Procedure
We prepared a set of established questionnaire and approached our participants. Participants were given a copy of the questionnaires and were requested to answer the questions, truthfully if possible. Before beginning the task, participants were briefed on the task instructions. A time period of 30 minutes were given to the participants to answer the questions. Participants were then requested to seal the questionnaires which they have answered into the provided envelope. We collected the questionnaires from our participants once the time period given ended. We then recorded the data which we have obtained through the established questionnaires.

Result
The usage of social networking sites by the people today has increased tremendously intrigued by the convenience of technologies be it children or elders. The connection between social networking sites and how it affects an individual’s daily routine has been investigated during this research. The experimental hypothesis for our research is social networking sites have an impact on an individual’s daily routine. Append below are our data collected through the questionnaires:- Variables | Mean | Median | SD | | Perceived Usefulness | 3.34 | 4.00 | 14.18 | | Perceived Enjoyment | 3.21 | 3.75 | 13.65 | | Intention to use/adopt | 3.31 | 4.00 | 14.07 | | Perceived Involvement | 2.67 | 3.33 | 11.33 | | Perceived Connectedness | 3.03 | 3.33 | 12.89 | | Age | 17.95 | 20 | 76.26 | |
Table 1.1: Descriptive Statistics of Variables

The data described above validates that social networking site do have an impact on an individual’s daily routine. Analysis made on the data also proves that participants are active users of social networking sites. Based on the data collected, the mean, median and standard deviation were calculated for each of the variables. The scales used in our questionnaires were 5. Strongly Agree 4. Agree 3. Neutral, 2. Disagree, and 1. Strongly Disagree. Participants strongly agreed on one of the variable which is the perceived of usefulness of social networking sites. The average of the results is 3.34, the median is 4.00 and SD is 14.18. This variable appeared to reflect the fact that our participants feels that social networking sites are indeed useful in their daily routine.
Participants relatively agreed on the variable which is perceived of enjoyment. The average of the results is 3.21, the median is 3.75 and the SD is 13.65. These results revealed a significant effect of enjoyment felt by participants towards social networking sites. Participants also mostly agreed on the intention to use and adopt the information gathered from the social networking sites. The average of the results is 3.31, the median is 4.00 and SD is 14.07. The result indicates that the participants intend to use social networking sites as their daily source of referencing.
To further test the validity of our research hypothesis, we calculated the variable which is the perceived of involvement. The average of the results is 2.67, the median is 3.33 and SD is 11.33. The result proves the level of involvement of participants in social networking sites. We have also calculated the results of the variable perceived of connectedness. The results obtained are mean is 3.03, the median is 3.33 and SD is 12.89. The results reflects that participants are satisfied that they are able to be connected to the social networking sites at any point of time and this proves their indulgent in social networking sites. Our data above also indicates that age do have a significant relationship with the amount of time spent on social networking sites. The older participants’ spend lesser amount of time on social networking sites compared to the younger ones.
We have also analysed the actual use of time spent by our participants on social networking sites. The questionnaires have indicated that our participants spend most of their time on social networking sites. These results appeared to reflect the fact that our participants spend most of their time on social networking sites. This indicates that the more our participants use social networking sites the more impact is being caused to their daily routines in life. Variables | Mean | Median | SD | Years of Usage | 5.25 | 5 | 22.31 | Frequency in a week | 3.55 | 4 | 15.08 | Number of hours spent in a week | 3.40 | 4 | 14.45 |
Table 1.2: Descriptive Statistics of Actual Use.

All variables appeared to reflect the fact that participants are actively involved in social networking sites almost every day. Thus, these results provided evidences that social networking sites do have an impact on an individual and the hypothesis is accepted.

Discussion
The result of this experiment showed that the mean for independent variables, perceived usefulness, and perceived enjoyment, intention to use or adopt perceived connectedness are high. The higher the mean of these variables, the higher the chances of an individual’s daily routine is affected by social networking sites as the increasing numbers of social networking sites has eventually became the substitution of real life social experiences. Besides that, the increasing number of mean of the variables implies a positive feedback users have on social networking sites causing a constant increase in the number of social networking sites users. This indicates that the hypothesis of the experiment is accepted. Thus, social networking sites have an impact on an individual’s daily routine.

References
McMahon, S. (2001). Networking Tips for Social Scientists and Ecologists. Science, 293(5535), 1604.
Adrian Athique, Digital Media and Society: An Introduction, January 25, 2013
Bonds-Raacke, J. (2010). MySpace and Facebook: Identifying Dimensions of Uses and Gratifications for Friend Networking Sites. Individual Differences Research, 8(1), 27-33.
Hui-Tzu Grace Chou and Nicholas Edge. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking. February 2012, 15(2): 117-121. doi:10.1089/cyber.2011.0324.
British Journal of Developmental Psychology, Mar2013, Vol. 31 Issue 1, p136-142, 7p
Dong-Hee, S. (2010). Analysis of online social networks: A cross-national study. Online
Information Review, 34(3), 473-495. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/14684521011054080

Appendix

Analysis of Online Social Networks: A Cross-National Study (Dong-Hee, S. (2010).Analysis f online social networks : A cross-national study. Online Analysisof online social networks: A cross-national study. Online
Information Review, 34(3), 473-495. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/14684521011054080)

Please answer the following questions.
Part 1. Profiling questions
Gender: Male or female
My age:
Part 2. Social Networking Sites (SNS) questions
Answer the following questions with the scale:
Strongly disagree ____Disagree____ Neutral____ Agree____ Strongly agree____
Perceived usefulness:
PU1: I think that SNSs are very useful to my life in general.

PU2: I think that SNSs help to improve my performance in general.

PU3: I think that SNSs help to enhance the effectiveness of my life in general.

PU4: I think that SNSs provide very useful services and information to me.

Perceived enjoyment:
PE1: I find the services entertaining (Using SNSs provided me with a lot of enjoyment)

PE2: I find the services pleasant (I am pleased when I use SNSs)

PE3: I find the services exiting (I enjoyed using SNSs because it is exciting)

PE4: I find the services fun (I had fun using SNSs)
Attitude:
A1: I think that using SNSs is a good idea.

A2: I think that using SNSs is beneficial to me.

A3: I have positive perceptions about using SNSs.

Intention to use/adopt:

I1: I intend to use SNSs in the future.

I2: I intend to use SNSs as much as possible.

I3: I recommend others to use SNSs.

I4: I intend to continue using SNSs in the future.

Flow:

FL1: During my use of SNSs, I was absorbed intensely in the activity (concentration).

FL2: I strongly feel that I am inside the virtual world when using SNSs (telepresence).

FL3: During my use of SNSs, I felt in control (perceived control).

Perceived involvement:

PI1: I got emotionally involved in SNSs.

PI2: I can participate in the activities in SNSs.

PI3: I can customise the content and services in SNSs.

Perceived connectedness:

PC1: I feel good because I can access services any time via SNSs.

PC2: I feel like being connected to external reality because I can search for information that I want.

PC3: I feel emotionally comforted because I can do something interesting with SNSs at my convenience.

Part 3. Actual use

How many years have you been using SNS’s services?

How many times do you believe you use SNS’s services during a week?

____ Not at all
____ About 1-3 times a week
____ Several times a week
____ About once a day
____ Several times each day

How many hours do you believe you use SNS’ services every week?
____ less than 1 hour.
____ between 1-5 hours.
____ between 5-10 hours.
____ between 10-15 hours.
____ between 15-20 hours.
____ between 20-25 hours.
____ more than 25 hours.