An Analysis of the Relationship Between Facebook Usage and Perceived Cultural and Social Security: A Case Study of Maimana City Residents

This article examines the relationship between the use of the social network Facebook and the feelings of cultural and social security among its users. Given the increasing prevalence of social networks and their impacts on daily life, this study analyzes how user activities on Facebook affect their feelings of security in cultural and social contexts. This study adopts a quantitative approach and falls under the category of applied and survey-based research. Data were collected through a researcher-designed questionnaire, and sampling was conducted using a convenience and voluntary method among 380 young Facebook users in Maimana, Afghanistan, in 2024. Descriptive and inferential statistical methods, including multiple regression analysis, were employed to analyze the data. Despite the growing use of social networks, particularly Facebook, in Afghan society, few studies have examined the psychological and social impacts of this platform on users’ feelings of cultural and social security. This study aims to address that gap by focusing on young users in the city of Maimana. The research reveals a significant inverse relationship between Facebook use (in terms of membership duration, usage level, engagement type, and content perception) and users’ feelings of cultural and social security, as these aspects of Facebook use increase, feelings of security decrease. Moreover, the independent variables in the regression model explained 13% of the variance in social security feelings and 15% in cultural security feelings. While the findings offer important insights, the use of a non-random, convenience-based sample limits the generalizability of the results beyond the studied population. Nevertheless, the observed patterns provide a meaningful foundation for understanding social media’s influence on young users in fragile sociocultural environments. Future research employing probability sampling and broader geographic coverage is recommended to validate and extend these findings.