How the Middle East Uses Social Media: 2021 Edition

How the Middle East Uses Social Media, New Media Academy, 2023

86 Pages Posted: 7 Mar 2023 Last revised: 18 Mar 2023

See all articles by Damian Radcliffe

Damian Radcliffe

University of Oregon, School of Journalism and Communication; Cardiff University, School of Journalism, Media and Cultural Studies; The Tow Center for Digital Journalism part of the Graduate School of Journalism at Columbia University

Hadil Abuhmaid

University of Oregon

Date Written: March 10, 2022

Abstract

This is the tenth report in a series of annual studies exploring the latest social media trends across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

Using a broad range of industry, academic and media sources, we dive into the trends - and biggest stories - which shaped MENA’s relationship with social media during the past year.

Specifically, we dive into developments on major networks (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat and Twitter), emerging platforms (TikTok, LinkedIn and Clubhouse) as well as messaging apps (WhatsApp, Yalla and Telegram). It also examines the role of Influencers, and how COVID-19 and Online Misinformation played out on social media across the Middle East in 2021.

This year’s study was once more produced in partnership with the New Media Academy. The New Media Academy was inaugurated in June 2020, by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister, and ruler of Dubai, to work within the space of development, with a focus on harnessing opportunities in the digital space.

Keywords: social media, social network, social networking, Middle East, Middle East and North Africa, MENA, MENA region, Arab World, digital, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, TikTok, LinkedIn, Clubhouse, Social Audio, digital media, trends, influencers, Arab Youth, Arab, Arabic, Egypt, UAE

JEL Classification: O53, O55, O38, O3, O30, M3, M30, M31, M37, M39, L18

Suggested Citation

Radcliffe, Damian and Abuhmaid, Hadil, How the Middle East Uses Social Media: 2021 Edition (March 10, 2022). How the Middle East Uses Social Media, New Media Academy, 2023, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4353017 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4353017

Damian Radcliffe (Contact Author)

University of Oregon, School of Journalism and Communication ( email )

1280 University of Oregon
Eugene, OR 97403
United States

HOME PAGE: http://journalism.uoregon.edu/member/radcliffe-damian/

Cardiff University, School of Journalism, Media and Cultural Studies ( email )

Aberconway Building
Colum Drive
Cardiff, Wales CF10 3EU
United Kingdom

HOME PAGE: http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/people/view/201298-radcliffe-damian

The Tow Center for Digital Journalism part of the Graduate School of Journalism at Columbia University ( email )

3022 Broadway
New York, NY 10027
United States

HOME PAGE: http://towcenter.org/academics/damian-radcliffe/

Hadil Abuhmaid

University of Oregon ( email )

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