Social Media and Transformative Technologies in the Arab World

This seminal book examines the digital landscape of the Arab world, highlighting the sociocultural and economic factors that shape digital development and contribute to variations in technology adoption and profitable social media engagement. The twenty-two contiguous countries that form the Arab world are united by similarities in language and culture but are divided digitally, impacting their adoption of social media for self-advancement. The economically advanced Gulf countries have reached a level of digital engagement that is at par with the most advanced nations globally. Government policy and support have enabled many Arab nations to progress digitally, but repressive governments, war and displacement have stifled development in others.

The Arab digital divide provides a central theme across the various empirical research studies presented in this book. Two chapters offer a pan-Arab perspective, examining the adoption of AI in the PR industry and young Arabs’ evaluation of electronic word-of-mouth. Studies that focus on the transformative power of social media are all from the GCC region. Themes presented are diverse, covering Arab modest-fashion influencers’ use of social media platforms, the characteristics of effective Foodstagram posts and how Emirati women entrepreneurs use Instagram to operate micro-businesses. The study of VR journalism shows how it can be used to elevate less digitally developed communities by amplifying their narratives.

The book positions social media and digital technologies as tools for empowerment that expand individual and community capabilities while preserving cultural identity. It is intended for scholars and researchers in media and communication, journalism, mass communication, media studies, media ethics and Middle East studies.