IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - June 2018 - 43

Connection to Friends and Family
Respondents in this study confirmed their concerns
about Facebook and provided justifications for using it
despite the concerns. Most of the respondents stated
that the main reason of using Facebook despite the
concerns is to stay connected with their friends and
family. A respondent stated "I do not like it [Facebook],
but I am afraid that I will be disconnected from the
people I know. Facebook is almost the only way to keep
in touch with friends I have met from different countries, who I can no longer see in person." Another
respondent was quite clear in stating the value of Facebook as an online, global channel of communication.
She said
"I like the idea of networking with my relatives
and friends from all over the world. I [get so much]
news from Facebook whether it is happy or sad;
from a new born baby, engagement, wedding, etc.
No matter what, Facebook is a good medium of
communication."
Another respondent confirmed: "Facebook is the
easiest and fastest channel through which I communicate with my extended family overseas." Another
response that was aligned with the previous responses stated,
"I still use it [Facebook] to stay in touch with
friends and family, especially [since] many of
them are living in other countries. And like it or
not, people are not communicating with each
other as they used to 10 years ago, but they take
the time to post on Facebook."
One of the responses compared Facebook to other
communication platforms:
"The only constant communication way with
friends and family who are faraway! Mobile numbers change so do addresses - Facebook accounts
rarely change!"
These results align with the findings of Brandtzæg [2]
who showed that people are using social media to make
friendships with new people and to keep in touch with
existing friends.

Education and Study Features
Another important reason for continuing to use Facebook relates to the features and services it offers, as
one of the respondents confirmed: "Facebook is perhaps the most feasible way where I can connect with my
colleagues instantaneously to discuss and exchange
JUNE 2018

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study-related matters." This agrees with Zaidieh [5] who
illustrated the effectiveness of social media in education
where students, educators, and administrators can
effectively communicate.

Users cannot truly quit Facebook
if they cannot permanently delete
everything about themselves.

Commercial Uses
Commercial potential is another Facebook value mentioned by respondents: "I have a business page on Facebook. That is why I need it." Two other respondents
concurred: "I have my own page and it is really beneficial," and "Facebook is the source of my income." These
findings agree with Hajli [4] who discussed social commerce and how the levels of interaction between consumers in this type of e-commerce are beneficial over
social networks.

Information Seeking
Considering Facebook as an information-seeking channel and a news platform was given as another reason for
continuing to use the platform as stated by a respondent: "Facebook is a very effective channel to follow up

Table 1. Reasons for using facebook despite
concerns.
No.

Reason

effective and convenient channel for communication.

Utilitarian values of usage (e.g. study related purposes,
commercial benefits).

information Seeking (e.g., job search, job postings,
news updates, etc.).

Potential loss of friends, connections, or acquaintances.

enjoyment.

virtual addiction.

nonexistence of a better alternative.

Platform to express views and opinions.

inability to entirely delete the Facebook account based
on its terms and conditions of use.

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