The Role of Social Media in Raising Awareness among University Students about the Anfal Genocide
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24086/cuejhss.v9n2y2025.pp124-137Keywords:
Social Media, Awareness, University Students, Genocide, AnfalAbstract
The Anfal Genocide is one of the tragic crimes in Kurdish history, carried out in the late twentieth century, specifically in 1988, by the former Iraqi regime. This crime against the Kurdish people has left a profound impact on Kurdish society. However, the level of awareness among different individuals, particularly university students, about this historical issue remains limited or low. This research attempts to examine this problem by identifying the impact of social media, the types of content, as well as the various platforms used by university students. The study employed a descriptive-survey methodology, and the research population consisted of all students at Cihan University-Erbil for the academic year 2024-2025. The research sample comprised 175 students from various departments, selected purposively. Among the most important findings reached by the researchers is that social media plays a significant role in raising awareness among university students about the Anfal Genocide, as the majority of participants encounter content related to the Anfal Genocide on social media and consider it their primary source of information. Visual content, particularly historical images and personal stories, are the most effective formats for understanding the Anfal Genocide. At the end of the research, several recommendations and suggestions were presented.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Ahmed J. Hama Karim, Dlan I. Mawlood
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