Within the theoretical framework of cognitive perception, this study aims to examine the extent to which university youth perceive the values of digital citizenship while using social media platforms. This is achieved by identifying the respondents’ level of knowledge of these values, their mental awareness and recall of them, and their practical application during their use of social networking sites. Communication, connectivity, and interaction among users in the digital virtual space require awareness, recall, and implementation of digital citizenship values across the three core activities performed by individuals in that space: communication, connection, and interaction.
The study falls within descriptive research and is based on the survey method. Data were collected through a structured audience questionnaire consisting of closed-ended questions designed to meet the specified research objectives.
The researcher reached several conclusions, the most significant of which indicate that respondents possess a good level of knowledge regarding digital citizenship values when using social media platforms. They also demonstrate awareness of the importance of mentally recalling these values and attribute high importance to their practical application for the purposes of communication, connection, and interaction. Furthermore, the proportion of respondents who lack knowledge of digital citizenship values, fail to recall them mentally, or do not apply them in practice while using social media platforms is relatively small. This represents a positive indicator of a high level of awareness among respondents regarding these values, in line with the defined objectives of the study.