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<p>The use of digital connections in information and communication technologies has become a critical component of social capital in youths’ social interactions. This study scrutinizes how social connections are developed and preserved through digital social media platforms among first-year students at Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia. A quantitative research design was employed, utilizing a self-administered questionnaire distributed to a sample of 246 participants. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and factor analysis. The findings reveal that Facebook and Telegram are the most frequently used platforms, with most students accessing them several times daily.Factor analysis identified key dimensions of digital social capital, including communication with like-minded peers, contact with friends, information exchange, network expansion across diverse groups,and a sense of belonging to online communities. This study provides a clear framework linking digital behaviors to social capital components, enhancing our understanding of the digital world’s role in shaping interpersonal and community relationships among university youth.</p>

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Building bridges online: social media and the cultivation of digital social capital among Addis Ababa University students

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年1月26日

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  • Tadiyos Tsegaye

摘要

The use of digital connections in information and communication technologies has become a critical component of social capital in youths’ social interactions. This study scrutinizes how social connections are developed and preserved through digital social media platforms among first-year students at Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia. A quantitative research design was employed, utilizing a self-administered questionnaire distributed to a sample of 246 participants. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and factor analysis. The findings reveal that Facebook and Telegram are the most frequently used platforms, with most students accessing them several times daily.Factor analysis identified key dimensions of digital social capital, including communication with like-minded peers, contact with friends, information exchange, network expansion across diverse groups,and a sense of belonging to online communities. This study provides a clear framework linking digital behaviors to social capital components, enhancing our understanding of the digital world’s role in shaping interpersonal and community relationships among university youth.