The impact of modern communication technology on building national identity among youth in Saudi Arabia as a case study

This study aims to explore the impact of modern communication technologies on the formation of national identity among young people in Saudi Arabia, focusing on the relationship between usage levels, exposure to foreign content, digital national participation, educational level, and the ability to critically evaluate digital content. The study employed a descriptive-analytical approach, utilizing a questionnaire as the primary data collection tool. The questionnaire included sections measuring modern communication technology usage, exposure to foreign content, digital national participation, and national identity formation, in addition to collecting demographic information. The research sample consisted of 160 young people aged 18–32 years from diverse educational backgrounds and employment statuses. The results demonstrated strong, statistically significant positive correlations between the level of modern communication technology usage, digital national participation, and national identity formation. Conversely, a statistically significant negative correlation was found between intensive exposure to foreign content and national identity formation. Furthermore, the results indicated that higher educational levels among young people enhance their ability to critically evaluate digital content, thus contributing to the preservation of national identity and the resilience against external cultural influences.