The use of YouTube for self- education in the UAE: Equal opportunities, different interests, and outcomes

Abstract

This study explores the use of YouTube in self-education in the United Arab Emirates. Digital platforms and social media provide users with multiple opportunities to interact and access various information and services. However, due to the diverse interests of users and the various reasons for using these platforms, there is a variation in the extent of benefiting from them. One example of this is the use of YouTube as a platform to acquire and learn skills and experiences. In light of that, the study aims at discovering the reasons and motivations that lead users to adopt YouTube as a tool for self-education. It also explores the benefits that have been gained from that process and reveals the challenges that may limit its effectiveness. The study aims at describing the users’ interests and the types of self-education they are targeting. Data from 175 respondents were analyzed after conducting an online survey form. Results indicate that users prefer using YouTube as it facilitates the self-education process by developing skills and generating solutions for daily life concerns. Results also indicate that YouTube is preferred as a self-education tool because of its ease of use and presenting visual content via different devices. Seeking knowledge and developing personal skills motivate users to use the platform. By measuring the correlation and regression among variables the results suggest that users intend to use YouTube as a self-education tool in a variety of fields such as technology, personal daily practices, and professional skills.

Keywords

• self- education
• youtube
• personal development
• digital equality
• learning skills
• uae