Exploring the Role of Social Media in Bridging Gaps and Facilitating Global Communication

Abstract

Social media plays a pivotal role in shaping global communication dynamics, offering unprecedented opportunities for intercultural dialogue and knowledge exchange. Understanding the influence of social media on cross-cultural communication is essential in today's interconnected world. This study aims to explore the influence of social capital theory and network theory on social media's impact on global communication. Additionally, it investigates initiatives leveraging social media to promote cross-cultural dialogue and addresses challenges such as misinformation and privacy concerns while bridging digital divides. A qualitative approach, including narrative synthesis and systematic literature review methods, was employed to analyze existing literature on social media's role in global communication. Data were collected from reputable databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, Web of Science, and Science Direct, using specific inclusion and exclusion criteria. The findings highlight the significant role of social capital theory and network theory in understanding the impact of social media on global communication. Initiatives utilizing social media to promote cross-cultural dialogue were diverse, ranging from online communities to social media campaigns. Moreover, challenges such as misinformation, privacy concerns, digital literacy, access disparity, and regulatory hurdles were identified. Social media platforms serve as valuable tools for fostering intercultural understanding, communication, and knowledge transfer. By addressing challenges and leveraging social capital and network theories, social media can contribute to bridging digital divides and promoting inclusive global communication.