## 5 Discussion
### The Impact of Using SNSAs on Civic Participation  
Participants in the current study showed a moderate level of civic participation (\(M\) = 3.10, \(SD\) = 0.77) through SNSAs. This level of participation was supported by numerous experiences reported through the interviews. Participants confirmed the role of SNSAs in supporting their civic participation towards developing themselves, their community and its members. In terms of developing their own abilities, participants mentioned the role of SNSAs in improving their social performance by sharing experiences in different walks of life, gaining an understanding of societal difficulties and possible solutions, and finding information relating to useful courses and lectures related to their lives. Other studies found SNSAs were useful as a source of knowledge for university students in relation to civic life in Jordan [48], social responsibility and participation in the community in Egypt [98], and civic learning through campus activism in North American universities [99]. However, in the current study, the experience of postgraduate students revealed the role of SNSAs as a medium of engagement with others more than just as a source of knowledge in terms of developing their capacity to support the community. The second theme related to opportunities for developing community through introducing new ideas, uniting efforts and engaging in community projects. Similar to this, [PERSON] [98] found that SNSAs increased the value of social responsibility for students by supporting them to engage in social projects, such as environmental protection within their community. Indeed, this supports the positive correlation found by [PERSON] et al. [52] between participation in offline civic activities and using SNSAs by students in North America. In China, [PERSON] and [PERSON] [100] explain how the complexity and challenges of offline civic participation prompted students to online participation through SNSAs where \"they can speak out online to assert their rights and to show their sense of responsibility to wider society\" [100]. In the current study, the results of the civic participation scale on the survey showed that publishing links to support social issues in the community was reported by participants as the highest activity (M = 3.35, SD = 1.15). The third theme related to harnessing the capacity of SNSAs to help others by identifying those in need both locally and internationally, offering reliable channels of assistance, finding donors, and providing emotional support for individuals. These examples support the results of an Algerian study conducted by [PERSON] [53] about the role of SNSAs toward changing the traditional volunteer participation to a digital model. [PERSON] [101] reported that SNSAs helped to contain Ebola in Nigeria and contributed to recruiting volunteers, collecting donations for charities that helped with the outbreak. Similarly, [PERSON] and [PERSON] [102] found that 243 (82%) of the participants received requests for blood donations through SNSAs in Saudi Arabia. Likewise, [PERSON] and [PERSON] [103] found that 96 (80%) of participants from health-care professions in Saudi Arabia agreed with the benefits of using SNSAs in provision of health services, increased patient education, and public health awareness. However, in the current study the results of the civic participation scale on the survey revealed that using SNSAs to improve living conditions of others was rated as the lowest activity (M = 2.91, SD = 1.04). In the interviews, participants found the potential for setting up fake accounts and impersonation of others reduced confidence that assistance was going to legitimate sources. In addition, they reiterated the need for a high level of caution when participating in forums dealing with social issues, due to the existence of undesirable protests from others. These limitations reduced the role of SNSAs within the field of voluntary work and civic participation.