Why Do They Post? Motivations and Uses of Snapchat, Instagram and Twitter among Kuwait College Students

Why Do They Post? Motivations and Uses of Snapchat, Instagram and Twitter among Kuwait College Students

Fatima Alsalem
Kuwait University, Kuwait

Abstract

This study explores the differences between Snapchat, Instagram, and Twitter in terms of intensity of use and use motivations. Grounded in the theory of Uses and Gratifications, the current research compares the three platforms with exploratory factor analysis. A cross-sectional survey methodology of college students in Kuwait (N=692) asked respondents to identify the time they spend using social media, satisfaction with social media content, the intensity of using Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter as well as seven use motivations. The analysis of the data indicated that Instagram is the most popular platform among social media users, while Snapchat intensity of use is the highest. Based on the factor analysis results, motivations to use Snapchat are passing the time, self-expression, self-presentation, and entertainment. While the motivations to use Twitter are self-presentation, entertainment, and social interaction. Finally, passing time, social interaction, self-presentation, and entertainment are the motivations to use Instagram.

Keywords: Uses and Gratifications, motivations, social media, Snapchat,Instagram, Twitter

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Fatima Alsalem (Ph.D., Indiana University, USA, 2015) is an Assistant Professor of Mass Communication at Kuwait University, where she is committed to supporting students and trying to boost tolerance and acceptance of others among Kuwaiti youth. Dr. Fatima has participated in the media tech camp by the United States Mission to the United Nations and State Department in New York, 2012 and the International Visiting Leadership Program (IVLP) sponsored by the State Department in the United States “Women Preventing Violent Extremism” in 2015. Dr. Alsalem has participated in Voices for Reason Program on Combating Terrorism by Hollings Center and the State Department in 2016.