Discussion of First Doctoral Dissertation on Social Media Impact on Family

The Deanship of Graduate Studies and Scientific Research at the Islamic University of Minnesota (Main Center) organized a public discussion for the doctoral dissertation presented by researcher Fatima Abdulrahman Ahmed Al-Maraghi, entitled "The Impact of Social Media on Family Relationships and the Increase in Divorce Rates in Qatar: A Field Study," on the evening of Wednesday, January 14, 2026.

The dissertation, submitted to fulfill the requirements for a Doctorate degree in the Department of Media and Public Relations at the College of Media, analyzes the growing impact of social media use on the cohesion of family relationships and its correlation with rising divorce rates in Qatari society, relying on a field research methodology.

The discussion committee was chaired by Professor Dr. Hanan Sobhi Obeid, Head of the Graduate Studies Department and Scientific Deputy Dean of the College of Media. The committee members included Dr. Raed Mohammed Al-Mawsili and Dr. Hajar Al-Najjar as supervisors, Associate Professor Dr. Rafida Al-Habash as an internal examiner, and Professor Dr. Ayman Mohammed, Professor of Journalism and Digital Media at Zarqa University in Jordan, as an external examiner.

The discussion was held via the Zoom platform at 9:00 PM Mecca time. It featured a rich scientific session during which the committee discussed the dissertation's contents and key findings, providing their scientific observations and evaluations while appreciating the considerable research effort and the topic's importance in the context of contemporary digital transformation.

Organizing this discussion falls within the university's commitment to supporting serious scientific research that addresses pressing societal issues and contributes to enriching academic and practical knowledge.