Iraqi Sports Audience Reliance on Facebook as a Source of Information and Its Relationship to the Formation of Sports Culture

Abstract

Objectives: This study aims to identify the extent to which Iraqi sports audiences rely on Facebook as a source of sports-related information and to examine its relationship with the formation of sports culture. It also seeks to determine the nature of the sports topics followed by audiences, their level of engagement with such content, and the reasons behind their reliance on the platform.
Methodology: The study falls within the scope of descriptive research and employed the survey method. A questionnaire was used as the primary data collection instrument. The study population consisted of Facebook users who rely on the platform to obtain sports information. A snowball sampling technique was utilized, resulting in a sample of 400 respondents.
Results: The findings revealed that one of the primary reasons Iraqi sports audiences rely on Facebook is to obtain information regarding match schedules and venues, with an agreement rate of 78.5%. Respondents also reported benefiting from the archives of certain pages and websites to follow sporting events, with an agreement rate of 77.2%. Furthermore, the results showed that 62.2% of respondents believe that information available on Facebook contributes to the formation of sports culture, while 57.5% indicated that the platform plays a role in enhancing sports awareness. Additionally, 53.5% stated that Facebook contributes to increasing public awareness of the importance of sports.
Conclusion: The study concludes that Facebook serves as a major source of sports information for Iraqi sports audiences and plays a significant role in shaping sports culture by enhancing sports awareness and expanding the public’s knowledge of sports and their importance.