Interactivity in Context: Access Points and Gender Moderates Social Media Networks, Social Capital and Sustainable Development Initiatives Nexus
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24191/rpsqm497Keywords:
Social media networks, Social capital, Sustainable development initiative, SM access points, GenderAbstract
The study investigates the relationship between social media, social capital and sustainable development initiatives. It further examined the moderating role of gender and social media access points in the relationships with 431 library users from private universities and public libraries in northern Nigeria. A quantitative research design through a descriptive correlational approach was adopted; data were collected through an online Google Forms survey. The instrument was designed on a seven-point Likert scale to measure respondents' perceptions. The data were analysed using structural equation modelling (SMARTPLSSEM). The results indicate that social media networks had a significant relationship with sustainable development initiatives and social capital. Social capital is also significantly related to sustainable development initiatives. Moderation analysis reveals that gender had a significant moderation effect on the link between social media and social capital but failed to moderate the link between social media and sustainable development initiative. Also, the social media access point significantly moderated between the SM-SDI and SC-SDI paths. Theory, practical and policy implications were proffered.
References
Addai, G., Guodaar, L., Amponsah, O., Ibrahiem, D. M., Felix, K., & Antwi‐Agyei, P. (2024). Role of social capital in agricultural diversification: Implications for sustainable development in rural regions. Sustainable Development, 32(5), 4844-4865. https://doi.org/10.1002/sd.2938
Adepoju, O. O., Abdullahi, M. S., & Maji, A. (2023). Concept of blue economy - a qualitative review for sustainable economic development in Nigeria. European Journal of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, 1(4), 668-681. https://doi.org/10.59324/ejtas.2023.1(4).61
Aharony, N. (2012). Facebook use in libraries: An exploratory analysis. Aslib Proceedings, 64(4), 358-372. https://doi.org/10.1108/00012531211244725
Ahmed, I., Muniba, F., & Ali, F. (2021). News media use and civic engagement: The mediating role of social capital and civic accountability. Media Education (Mediaobrazovanie), 17(1), 117-188. https://doi.org/10.13187/me.2021.2.177
Alghamdi, A. A., & Plunkett, M. (2021). The perceived impact of social networking sites and apps on the social capital of Saudi postgraduate students: A case study. Future Internet, 13(1), 20-. https://doi.org/10.3390/fi13010020
Auliah, A., Prayitno, G., Ari, I. R. D., Adrianto, D. W., Subagiyo, A., Biloshkurska, N. V., & Ismaili, H. (2025). The role of community social capital and collective action in the development of sustainable tourism. International Social Science Journal, 75(256), 311-325. https://doi.org/10.1111/issj.12554
Bandura, A. (1991). Social cognitive theory of self-regulation. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 50(2), 248-287. https://doi.org/10.1016/0749-5978(91)90022-l
Bhonsle, P., Soni, N., & Singh, C. M. (2023). Social media: Unite users of the world an exploratory study integrating social media and customer engagement. Journal for ReAttach Therapy and Developmental Diversities, 6(1), 1584-1595. https://doi.org/10.53555/jrtdd.v6i1.2768
Bohn, A., Buchta, C., Hornik, K., & Mair, P. (2014). Making friends and communicating on Facebook: Implications for access to social capital. Social Networks, 37, 29-41. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socnet.2013.11.003
Borgatti, S. P., Mehra, A., Brass, D. J., & Labianca, G. (2009). Network analysis in the social sciences. Science, 323(5916), 892-895.
Bourdieu, P (1986): The forms of capital. In: John G. Richardson (ed.): Handbook of Theory and Research for the Sociology of Education. New York: Greenwood Press, 241-258
Boyd, D. M., & Ellison, N. B. (2007). Social network sites: Definition, history, and scholarship. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 13(1), 210-230. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1083-6101.2007.00393.x
Burt, R. S. (2007). Brokerage and closure: An introduction to social capital. Oxford University Press; Oxford.
Choi, D., Nah, S., & Chung, D. S. (2021). Social media as a civic mobilizer: Community storytelling network, social media, and civic engagement in South Korea. Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, 65(1), 46-65. https://doi.org/10.1080/08838151.2021.1897818
Chowa, G., Masa, R., Bilotta, N., Zulu, G., & Manzanares, M. (2022). Can social networks improve job search behaviours among low-income youth in resource-limited settings? Evidence from South Africa. Development Southern Africa, 40(4), 729-749. https://doi.org/10.1080/0376835x.2022.2120457
Christian, A. K., Sanuade, O. A., Okyere, M. A., & Adjaye-Gbewonyo, K. (2020). Social capital is associated with improved subjective well-being of older adults with chronic non-communicable disease in six low- and middle-income countries. Globalisation and Health, 16(1), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12992-019-0538-y
Claridge, T. (2018). Functions of social capital: bonding, bridging, linking. Social capital research, 20(1), 1-7.
Cochran, W. G. (1977). Sampling Techniques (3rd ed.). New York: John Wiley & Sons
Coleman, J. S. (2003). Social capital in the creation of human capital. Networks in the Knowledge Economy. https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780195159509.003.0007
De, J. (2025). Social media, society, and sustainable development: Identifying opportunities and challenges through bibliometric analysis and social media review. European Journal of Geography, 16(2), 9-25. https://doi.org/10.48088/ejg.j.de.16.2.009.025
Dong, J., Lee, S., Wang, C., & Shannon, D. M. (2022). Impact on social capital and learning engagement due to social media usage among the international students in the U.S. Education and Information Technologies, 28(7), 8027-8050. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-022-11520-8
Ellison, N. B., Steinfield, C., & Lampe, C. (2007). The benefits of Facebook “Friends:” social capital and college students’ use of online social network sites. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 12(4), 1143-1168. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1083-6101.2007.00367.x
Ellison, N. B., Vitak, J., Gray, R., & Lampe, C. (2014). Cultivating social resources on social network sites: Facebook relationship maintenance behaviors and their role in social capital processes. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 19(4), 855-870. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcc4.12078
Fornell, C., & Larcker, D. F. (1981). Evaluating structural equation models with unobservable variables and measurement error. Journal of Marketing Research, 18(1), 39. https://doi.org/10.2307/3151312
Fotovvat, S., Safari, K., Zayyari, K., & Boostani, S. (2014). A study on relationship between social capital and sustainable development. Management Science Letters, 4(9), 2117-2120. https://doi.org/10.5267/j.msl.2014.8.007
Ghosh, S., Sarkar, S. K., Roy, P., Roy, B., & Podder, A. (2024). Role of libraries in promoting digital literacy and information fluency. Advances in Library and Information Science, 77-108. https://doi.org/10.4018/979-8-3693-3053-1.ch005
Giddens, A. (1991). Structuration theory: Past, present and future. In C. G. A. Bryant, & D. Jary (eds) Giddens’ theory of structuration: A critical appreciation (pp. 201–221). London: Routledge.
Gil de Zúñiga, H., Jung, N., & Valenzuela, S. (2012). Social media use for news and individuals' social capital, civic engagement and political participation. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 17(3), 319-336. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1083-6101.2012.01574.x
Granovetter, M. S. (2003). The strength of weak ties. Networks in the Knowledge Economy. https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780195159509.003.0010
Hair, J. F., Risher, J. J., Sarstedt, M., & Ringle, C. M. (2019). When to use and how to report the results of PLS-SEM. European Business Review, 31(1), 2-24. https://doi.org/10.1108/ebr-11-2018-0203
Haraway, D. (1985). A cyborg manifesto: Science, technology, and socialist-feminism in the late twentieth century. University of Minnesota Press.
Hoda, N., & Naim, A. (2023). Social capital in the age of online networking: Genesis, manifestations, and implications: Genesis, manifestations, and implications. IGI Global.
Huang, H., Cheng, T., Huang, W., & Teng, C. (2018). Who are likely to build strong online social networks? The perspectives of relational cohesion theory and personality theory. Computers in Human Behavior, 82, 111-123. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2018.01.004
Hui, J., Barber, N. R., Casey, W., Cleage, S., Dolley, D. C., Worthy, F., Toyama, K., & Dillahunt, T. R. (2020). Community collectives: Low-tech social support for digitally-engaged entrepreneurship. Proceedings of the 2020 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, 236, 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1145/3313831.3376363
Iwegbue. Ishioma N, & Collins Kediehor. (2025). Utilization of social media in skill acquisition and entrepreneurial development among youths in Africa. Journal of Management and Science, 15(1), 115-122. https://doi.org/10.26524/jms.15.9
Hair, J.F, Hult, G. T., Ringle, C., & Sarstedt, M. (2017). A primer on partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) (2nd ed.). SAGE Publications.
Islam, A., & Manchanda, P. (2023). Gender inequalities in digital India: A survey on digital literacy, access, and use. Digital Futures at Work Research Centre: Digit Working Paper No. 5. https://doi.org/10.20919/mcuu2363
Kaigo, M. (2012). Social media usage during disasters and social capital: Twitter and the Great East Japan earthquake. Keio communication review, 34(1), 19-35.
Kangro, K., & Lepik, K. (2025). Transforming the public sector through harnessing social capital and innovation in rural Estonia. Future Public Governance and Global Crises, 103-119. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781035318674.00016
Krasnova, H., Veltri, N. F., Eling, N., & Buxmann, P. (2017). Why men and women continue to use social networking sites: The role of gender differences. The Journal of Strategic Information Systems, 26(4), 261-284. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsis.2017.01.004
Krejcie, R. V., & Morgan, D. W. (1970). Determining sample size for research activities. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 30(3), 607-610. https://doi.org/10.1177/001316447003000308
Krishnendu, S., Rohra, H. A., Kanakasabapathy, P., Nandanan, K., & Padil, V. V. (2025). Towards grassroots sustainable development using human centered design and participatory rural appraisal: A study in two rural Indian villages. Sustainable Futures, 9, 100604. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sftr.2025.100604
Kurniawan, H., Yulianto, Y., Setiawan, R., Mladenov, S. V., & M. Ardiansyah, M. A. (2023). Sustainable development through community empowerment based on local wisdom. International Journal of Progressive Sciences and Technologies, 41(2), 164. https://doi.org/10.52155/ijpsat.v41.2.5719
Kumari, B. S. S., Lavanya, P., Padmambika, P., & Bobbili, S. (2024). Bridging the digital divide: Addressing inequality and access disparities. International Journal of Indian Psychȯlogy, 12(3), 1151-1156.
Lawler, E. J., & Yoon, J. (1996). Commitment in exchange relations: Test of a theory of relational cohesion. American Sociological Review, 61(1), 89. https://doi.org/10.2307/2096408
Lee, Y. (2021). Social media capital and civic engagement: Does type of connection matter? International Review on Public and Nonprofit Marketing, 19(1), 167-189. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12208-021-00300-8
Li, P., Zhou, W., & Kong, W. (2020). Research on the adoption of mobile hotel reservation based on TTF and UTAUT. DEStech Transactions on Engineering and Technology Research, (mcaee). https://doi.org/10.12783/dtetr/mcaee2020/35075
Li, X. (2020). Are all “Friends” beneficial? The use of Facebook and WeChat and the social capital of college students in Macau. Sage Open, 10(4), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244020963614
Lin, N. (2002). Social capital: A theory of social structure and action (2nd ed.). Cambridge University Press.
Liu, Y. (2023). Investigating the dynamics of trust in social capital on social media platforms. Advances in Social Networking and Online Communities, 57-72. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-6684-8953-6.ch005
Makridis, C., & Wu, C. (2020). Ties that bind (and social distance): How social capital helps communities weather the COVID-19 pandemic. SSRN Electronic Journal. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3592180
Mefalopulos, P., & Kamlongera, C. (2004). Participatory communication strategy design: A handbook. Food & Agriculture Org.
Mohammed, I., & Fiadzawoo, J. K. (2023). Social media for sustainable development: Challenging participatory development practices to re-learn and realign stakeholder practices in Tamale metropolis, Ghana. European Scientific Journal, ESJ, 19(14), 70. https://doi.org/10.19044/esj.2023.v19n14p70
Moser, C. (2012). Gender planning and development: Theory, practice and training. Routledge.
Mugil, H., & Kenzie, F. (2025). The Shift from Traditional to New Media: How Media Evolution Shapes Audience Engagement.J. Artif. Intell., Mach. Learn. Data Sci,35, 1-10.
Nalikan, M., Sumartono, Suryadi, & Rozikin, M. (2025). Community empowerment in rural areas based on social capital in Lamongan Regency: A holistic and collaborative approach. Journal of Ecohumanism, 4(1), 3811 -3820. https://doi.org/10.62754/joe.v4i1.6216
Noguti, V., Singh, S., & Waller, D. S. (2019). Gender differences in motivations to use social networking sites. Gender Economics, 676-691. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-5225-7510-8.ch033
Nunnally, J. C., & Bernstein, I. H. (1994). Psychometric theory. McGraw-Hill Humanities/Social Sciences/Languages.
Okafor, O. E., Chinenye, M. M., & Okoreaffia, O. (2023). Examining Members' Commitment, Heterogeneity and Social Capital Within the Membership Base of Agricultural Cooperatives in Udenu Local Government Area, Enugu State. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Applied Science, 8(3), 161-170.
Okpa, U. J., Okoro, L. A., Arrey, M. E., Mbum, P. A., Umo, U. A., Ina H, G. M., Nwobu, E. N., Neji, H. A., Effiom, O. D., & Abumbe, G. T. (2025). Role of social media as a catalyst for sustainable tourism development in Calabar metropolis, Nigeria. GeoJournal of Tourism and Geosites, 58(1), 412-421. https://doi.org/10.30892/gtg.58138-1423
Onwuegbuzie, A., & Collins, K. (2015). A typology of mixed methods sampling designs in social science research. The Qualitative Report, 12(2), 281-316. https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2007.1638
Ouya, V., Conteh, H., & Kagotho, N. (2025). Examining the role of social media and imagined communities in addressing social welfare gaps in Kenya. Social Media + Society, 11(2), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1177/20563051251345363
Pandu Primadata, A., Yamin, M., Wardhianna, S., Sutoyo, I. S., Kurniawan, A., & Citra Permata, F. (2023). Social capital for rural community during the COVID-19 pandemic in Banyumas Regency. KnE Social Sciences. https://doi.org/10.18502/kss.v8i3.12848
Pérez-Fernández, H., Rodríguez Escudero, A. I., Martín Cruz, N., & Delgado García, J. B. (2021). The impact of social capital on entrepreneurial intention and its antecedents: Differences between social capital online and offline. BRQ Business Research Quarterly, 27(4), 365-388. https://doi.org/10.1177/23409444211062228
Putnam, R. (2000). Bowling alone: The collapse and revival of American community. Choice Reviews Online, 38(04), 38-2454-38-2454. https://doi.org/10.5860/choice.38-2454
Rahman, M. M., Hasan, M. J., Chandra Deb, B., Rahman, M. S., & Kabir, A. S. (2023). The effect of social media entrepreneurship on sustainable development: Evidence from online clothing shops in Bangladesh. Heliyon, 9(9), e19397. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e19397
Reyes, M. E., Morales, B. C., Javier, G. E., Ng, R. A., & Zsila, Á. (2022). Social networking use across gender: Its association with social connectedness and happiness amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Technology in Behavioral Science, 7(3), 396-405. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41347-022-00262-6
Roasoft Inc. (2024, February 3). Sample size calculator by Raosoft, Inc. Web survey software, online surveys, email surveys from Raosoft, Inc. Retrieved February 3, 2024, from https://www.raosoft.com/samplesize.html
Shabbir, M. S., & Batool, F. (2025). Social entrepreneurship for community development: The role of social capital in establishing sustainable enterprises. Journal of Social Entrepreneurship, 1-26. https://doi.org/10.1080/19420676.2025.2492060
Selvakumar, P., Prasanna, L., Malik, N., & Chaudhry, R. (2025). Social Media and Technological Advancements. In Sustainable Practices in the Fashion and Retail Industry. IGI Global Advances in Marketing collection, Pennsylvania. https://doi.org/10.4018/979-8-3693-9959-0.ch018
Szreter, S., & Woolcock, M. (2004). Health by association? Social capital, social theory, and the political economy of public health. International journal of epidemiology, 33(4), 650-667.
Tengapoe, K., Baddianaah, I., & Yaradua, A. S. (2024). Access to social capital and smallholder agricultural practices: The case of smallholder farmers in north-western Ghana. Cogent Food & Agriculture, 10(1), -19. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311932.2024.2353670
Thye, S. R., Vincent, A., Lawler, E. J., & Yoon, J. (2014). Relational cohesion, social commitments, and person-to-group ties: Twenty-five years of a theoretical research program. Advances in Group Processes, 99-138. https://doi.org/10.1108/s0882-614520140000031008
Van Deursen, A. J., & Van Dijk, J. A. (2018). The first-level digital divide shifts from inequalities in physical access to inequalities in material access. New Media & Society, 21(2), 354-375. https://doi.org/10.1177/1461444818797082
Wahid, W., Salman, D., & Demmallino, E. B. (2024). Bonding, bridging, and linking social capital combinations in maize agribusiness system. Journal of Infrastructure, Policy and Development, 8(2). https://doi.org/10.24294/jipd.v8i2.2817
Wan, Q., & Du, W. (2022). Social capital, environmental knowledge, and pro-environmental behavior. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(3), 1443. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19031443
Wasserman, S., & Faust, K. (1994). Social network analysis: Methods and applications. Cambridge University Press
Wenger, E. (1998). Communities of practice: Learning, meaning, and identity. Cambridge University Press.
Woolcock, M., & Narayan, D. (2000). Social capital: Implications for development theory, research, and policy. The World Bank Research Observer, 15(2), 225-249. https://doi.org/10.1093/wbro/15.2.225
Zhao, G., Hui, X., Zhao, F., Feng, L., Lu, Y., & Zhang, Y. (2025). How does social capital facilitate community disaster resilience? A systematic review. Frontiers in Environmental Science, 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2024.1496813
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Augustine Uzoma Madu, Zaharudin Ibrahim PhD, Norhayati Hussin PhD

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Copyright of articles that appear in the journal belongs exclusively to Faculty of Information Science, Universiti Teknologi MARA (Publisher). This copyright covers the rights to reproduce the article, including reprints, electronic reproductions or any other reproductions of similar nature.







