"A new report by the University of Oregon’s School of Journalism and Communication detailing the Middle East’s social media use has revealed just how embedded platforms like Facebook, SnapChat and Twitter have become in the region. It is the seventh such annual report released by the University of Oregon." Details of the report are here: Damian Radcliffe and Payton Bruni,State of Social Media, Middle East: 2018, University of Oregon, School of Journalism and Communication

University of Oregon, Report description: "This report is the seventh in an annual series of publications showcasing the latest developments, trends and research in social media usage across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Using a wide variety of academic, industry and media sources, this White Paper features key insights from social media's development over the previous year. Notable trends from the past year include the continued popularity of Facebook and Facebook-owned products, especially with Arab Youth, as well as increasing challenges to online freedom of expression in many parts of the region. Saudi Arabia continues to be a social media powerhouse, being one of the biggest national markets for Snapchat and YouTube in the world. Meanwhile, the rise of social media influencers has met with some pushback; from regulation in UAE, to more tragic and threatening responses in Iraq. This report explores these developments, as well as emerging questions about the rise of fake news on social media, and the role that social networks are playing in Yemen's civil war."

Tags: Social media, Middle East, Reports, Snapchat, Facebook, UAE internet, Yemen, MENA Internet, MENA, Twitter, Saudi Arabia, Saudi Internet, Egyptian Internet