The positive and negative perception of university students using social media as a learning tool

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Joshua Ebere Chukwuere

Abstract

Social media platforms (SMPs) continue to revolutionise scholarly communication and information sharing. It positively and
negatively impacts educational institutions. Students at higher institutions depend on SMPs for their various daily life activities
and communication purposes. However, little is known about the positive and negative perceptions of first-year students adopting
SMPs as a learning tool, specifically in emerging countries. This study seeks to investigate the positive and negative perceptions
that first-year students have of the use of social media platforms as a learning tool. This study deployed a quantitative research
methodology in collecting randomised questionnaires from the students. The simple random sampling focused on first -year
students at the North-West University, Mahikeng Campus. This study’s findings established a good foundation of the first-year
students’ positive and negative perceptions of social media use for academic purposes. From the positive perspective, SMPs were
seen to ease learning while, negatively, the study findings revealed that social media platforms usage could sometimes be
frustrating.

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