The Impact of Social Media on Information Security in the Kurdistan Region

Abstract

The rapid development of social media networks usage in the Kurdistan Region as a center for social communication and information dissemination coincides with increasing information security risks at various levels. This research aims to determine the level of impact of social media networks on information security in the Kurdistan Region, particularly from the perspective of journalists. The objectives include examining the impact of social media networks on information security, as well as the patterns of social media usage, types of information security threats they face, their level of awareness and knowledge about protection mechanisms, and the strategies they use to counter threats. The type of research methodology employed is descriptive research, which primarily aims to describe and analyze the characteristics of phenomena and problems. The research population consists of media institutions and organizations in the Kurdistan Region, while the research sample comprises skilled and experienced journalists working in visual, audio, and electronic media who have professional experience in media fields. For determining the research sample, purposive sampling method was used. The total sample size is 371 journalists. The questionnaire framework consisted of six dimensions, based on the theoretical aspect of the research, and the results were analyzed using the SPSS program. The research findings indicate that social media networks have a dual impact on information security among journalists. On one hand, social media networks provide good opportunities for accessing diverse information sources and communicating with users, while on the other hand, they create serious risks to the quality and credibility of information. Furthermore, journalists do not consciously address the challenges of social media networks and need more effective strategies and mechanisms for dealing with information security risks.