The Relationship between the Use of Social Networking Sites (SNS) and Perceived Level of Social Intelligence among Jordanian University Students: The Case of Facebook

This study aimed to investigate Jordanian university students’ use of Facebook and their perceptions of their social intelligence as well as the relationship between students’ use of Facebook and a self reported measure of their social intelligence. The participants in this study were 282 students from different colleges in a Jordanian public university. For the purpose of the study, the researchers used cross-sectional survey design in which a questionnaire was administrated and collected in-class by number of faculty members, who agreed to have their classes participating in this study. The questionnaire aimed to collect data regarding students’ use of Facebook as well as the perceptions of their social intelligence. The analysis of the collected data showed that the majority of the students were active Facebook users. Participants’ perceptions of their level of social intelligence were positive and at moderate level. The findings showed significant association between Facebook use and perceived level of social intelligence among Jordanian university students. The current study disagreed with the common negative reputation, in Arab World, of the effect of Facebook on students’ social life. The current research study showed that the use of Facebook might benefit students’ social competencies and intelligence, through providing them with electronic platform that they can use to freely express themselves.