The Impact of Rumors on the Individual and Society in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of rumors on both individuals and the society at large in Saudi Arabia. Over the past several decades, the Internet has dramatically changed the manner in which modern society communicates. In particular, online media have altered how rumors are transmitted, from hearing those rumors - ranging from word of mouth among people to misleading online messages. Although the manner in which rumors are circulated has evolved over time, only a few studies have been conducted on the dynamics of how rumor spreads on the social media in Saudi Arabia. It is worthwhile to discuss the impact of rumors on individuals and the society in Saudi Arabia and determine the factors affecting the impact of rumors in Saudi Arabia. In this research study, two variables have been discussed, i.e. dependent and independent variables: the impact of rumors on both individuals and the society at Saudi Arabia, which shows dependency upon independent variables such as Uncertainty, Belief, Motivational Factors and Self-Enhancement. Quantitative research method has been used for this study that entails a total of 200 used survey questionnaires to collect vital information regarding the topic of investigation.