Understanding the Facebook usage and its consequences towards the emotions and social interactions of the Malay adults / Mohammad Nurhafiz Hassim

This qualitative study focuses on the usage of Facebook among Malay adults and its impact on emotions and social interactions. This study has four research questions: (1) How do Malay adults use Facebook?, (2) What are the factors that contributed to the usage of Facebook among Malay adults?, (3) How does Facebook affect the emotional aspects of Malay adults?, and (4) How does Facebook affect the social interaction aspects of Malay adults? This study is based on two theories; (i) Uses and Gratification Theory (UGT) and (ii) Media Ecology Theory (ME). The phenomenological approach has been used in this study, and key findings are obtained through in-depth interviews with 15 Malay adult Facebook users living around Klang Valley. Data analysis is conducted simultaneously with data collection and Atlas T.I software is used in coding processes to help manage, analyse and interpret data systematically and effectively. It cannot be denied that the usage of Facebook is not only used by teenagers, but also Malay adults who practice it in their daily communication activities. This study also found that Facebook was used as the latest source of information compared to newspapers and television. The findings also confirm that Malay adult users are emotional towards the information that is shared on Facebook. The study also found that social interaction certainly exists and makes the Facebook site a place or medium to communicate and get acquainted with no age boundaries. . It can, therefore, be seen that communication has now brought a change in the lives of people in Malaysia as social media becomes one of the mediums to communicate at this time.