Abstract

the use of social media by undergraduate students for social engagement and social
change is about how students can use platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and
Instagram to connect with others, share ideas, and make a positive impact on
society. It's a powerful tool that allows students to advocate for causes they care
about, network with professionals, and access valuable resources. Responsible use
and respectful engagement are important, and it provides exciting opportunities for
connection, advocacy, and personal growth. Let me know if you want to explore any
specific aspect further!

Keywords

- Social media
- Undergraduate students
- Social engagement
- Social change
- Platforms (such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram)
- Connecting with others
- Sharing ideas
- Making a positive impact
- Raising awareness
- Advocacy
- Environmental issues
- Social justice
- Equality
- Networking
- Professional development
- Industry-related groups
- Resources and opportunities
- Responsible use
- Constructive conversations
- Online presence
Introduction

The use of social media by undergraduate students for social engagement and social
change is a fascinating and relevant topic in today's digital era. Social media
platforms have become powerful tools that students can utilize to connect with
others, share ideas, and make a positive impact on society.

In recent years, social media has transformed the way undergraduate students engage
with their communities. Platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram allow
students to join groups, participate in discussions, and collaborate on projects,
creating a sense of belonging and fostering meaningful connections.

But it doesn't stop there! Social media also gives students a platform to advocate
for causes they care about. Whether it's raising awareness about environmental
issues, promoting social justice, or fighting for equality, undergraduate students
can use their online presence to make a difference and inspire social change.

Additionally, social media offers networking opportunities and professional

development for students. They can connect with professionals in their field of
interest, join industry-related groups, and access valuable resources and
opportunities. This can help them expand their knowledge, build relationships, and
enhance their career prospects.

However, it's important to be mindful of the responsible use of social media.

Students should respect others' opinions, engage in constructive conversations, and
be aware of the potential impact of their online presence.
Overall, the use of social media by undergraduate students for social engagement
and social change has opened up exciting possibilities for connection, advocacy,
and personal growth. It's an ever-evolving landscape that continues to shape the
way we interact and make a positive impact on the world around us."

Literature review

Kaplan & Heanlein (2010) defines "social media" as a group of internet-based

applications that build on the ideological and technological foundations of web 2.0
and that allows creation and exchange of user generated contents.

Social change is the general term used to describe changes in social processes. Any
aspect of a
social form, procedure, or pattern is modified. It is also the diversity
of behaviors and the
established social relationship processes. (Lauer, 1982). According to Moore
(1967), social
change is a result of social behaviors including values, norms, and culture. It is
inevitable in any
society and is influenced by a number of factors. Although there are many factors
that influence
social change, human interaction and patriotic leadership stand out as
the most important,
(Olagbaju, 2015).
The influence of social media on social change differs from state to state or
region to area. This
variation may be caused by differences in socio-demographics, resources, and
internet access. It
is undoubtedly a transparent mode of communication, but it is challenging to
determine whether
it has a beneficial or detrimental influence on social change. (Mangi et al.,
2018) Millions of
individuals use social media every day for a variety of reasons, and it
has become widely
accepted around the world. These websites have eliminated numerous
obstacles to
communication and created a setting that encourages easy interaction. (Romero,
2015)
Social media’s explosive expansion has transformed the globe into a
global village where
billions of people are constantly linked to one another. (Bashir et al.,
2021) Furthermore,
according to study, social media has a considerable and appropriate effect on
social change.

(Mangi et al., 2018) In society can now afford technology. (Egan & Moreno, 2011) As
Merten
and William (2009) stated, in the current highly advanced and well-liked period
of computer
technology, the educational level is growing and the approach has changed
from traditional
lectures to multimedia presentations.
Social media has grown in popularity among people all over the world in the last
few years. It
has made communication convenient for users and has remained a platform
where people
connect and communicate with their friends and family, discuss their problems and
issues, and
get support from them even when they are sitting in other parts of the world. One
can understand
the popularity of these sites from the numbers of their users across the
world. For example,
according to Statista 2021, Facebook has 2.89 billion users with 2.1 billion active
daily users,
YouTube has 2 billion users, and Twitter has 330 million. (Khan et al., 2020)
Thus, users in
Pakistan access the internet using their laptops, desktop computers, and mobile
phones (Haque,
2013)
Nielsen, (2017), social media are computer-related platforms that allow
people to exchange
information, ideas, videos, and other things. Websites like Facebook and Twitter
are regarded as
the best resources for learning about the globe and keeping up with
current developments.
(Bashir et al., 2021)
The Second World Internet Project New Zealand Survey study stated that,
83% of New
Zealanders use the internet, with 50% reporting that they are users of social
networking sites,
33% using instant messaging, 25% playing online games at least once a week, and 80%
using it
for daily communication. (Smith et al., 2009) Social media platforms are
made for social
interaction and communication, but they also have many educational
benefits for the
environment of learning and teaching. Due to these educational benefits,
many educational
institutions have begun to devote time and resources to facilitating technologies
that will help
students and teachers develop their skills and knowledge in accordance with the
demands of the
day. (Buzzetto, 2012)
The growth of social media platforms has opened up new possibilities for citizen-
driven projects
as well as for the promotion of social change in a way that may be more
participatory and
encourage interaction with the general public in a society. (Polanitzer, 2018) Due
to the growth
of social media over the past 10 years, young people are now able to
communicate ideas,
emotions, personal information, images, and videos at a truly incredible rate.
(Acheaw & Larson,
2015)
Education is regarded as the most effective tool for effecting social change.Any
community may
implement desirable changes through education to keep up with the fast
advancement of
technology. Education may aid social transformation as a crucial and
necessary ancillary
component. By fostering the dissemination of knowledge, information,
skills, and values

pertinent to the shifting socio-economic concerns, it can aid in promoting,

accelerating, and
working out that process. By utilizing its freeing function of
scrutinizing the current social
condition, education may aid in the process of substantial social
transformation. (Hattami &
Ahdal, n.d.)
Another survey also showed that the respondent’s use of social networking sites
had a negative
impact on their academic achievement. (Acheaw & Larson, 2015) People’s lives are
made easier
by social media while they are traveling, in an emergency, or happy.
They can easily
communicate and access each other, which saves them time. (Alqudsi-ghabra, 2012)
Professional social workers and social media are interconnected, they must
be more
knowledgeable about technology and digital media in order to control children’s and
teenagers'
excessive social media use. (Farooq & Bashir, 2021)
In this research, researchers are trying to find out about issues like behavioral
and intentional
issues among university students, the role of social media in social change,
and professional
social workers' attitudes towards it. Hence, given the above literature, there are
some objectives
below

Objective

• To find out the impact of social media in a society.

• To find out is social media an addiction among youth in society.
• To acknowledge the problems caused by social media.
• To find out how much youngsters influence through social media.
• How social media help people or society?
• To maximize the role of social media in social change.

Hypothesis

• There will be a significant relationship between mental illness and use of social
media
• There will be a significant relationship between the use of social media
and bringing
social change in a society

Methodology

The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. This method was considered
suitable as it enabled the researchers to investigate the already existing
situation and acquire first-hand information from the respondents in order to
interpret, discuss and report situations as they exist. The population for the
study comprised all undergraduate students at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife,
Nigeria. The random sampling technique was used to select five faculties. From each
faculty, 170 undergraduates were selected using convenience sampling technique. The
sample for the study comprised 850 students. A self-designed and validated
instrument titled “ social media by undergraduate students for social engagement
and social change Questionnaire (SUSS-Q)” was used to elicit information from the
respondents. The research instrument was subjected to both face and construct
validity measures for consistency. The reliability of the instrument was ensured at
0.86 reliability coefficient. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics of
frequency counts and percentages.
Research Question One: What is the extent of social media usage among
undergraduates in Obafemi Awolowo University?
To answer this research question, data were grouped into two and analysed using
frequency counts and percentages, as shown in the tables below. Table 1 shows the
social media platforms used by undergraduate students while Table 2 shows the daily
time spent by undergraduate students on social media.
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
Table 1: Social Media Platforms Used by Undergraduate Students
Social Media Frequency Percentage
WhatsApp 829 97%
2. Facebook 724 85%
3. Instagram 552 65%
4. YouTube 531 62%
5. Twitter 241 25%
6. LinkedIn 174 21%
7. Google Plus 128 15%
8. Snapchat 84 10%
9. Skype 63 7%
Source: Field Survey, 2019

As can be seen in Table 1, the four social media platforms most used by students at
Obafemi Awolowo University are WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

Table 2: Time Spent by Undergraduates on Social Media in a Typical Day

Duration Frequency Percentage
Less than one hour 153 18%
1 to 2 hours 204 24%
2 to 3 hours 264 31%
3 to 4 hours 111 13%
4 to 5 hours 76 9%
More than 5 hours 42 5%
Total 850 100%
Source: Field Survey, 2019

Table 2 shows the results on time spent by the undergraduate students on social
media in a typical day. As shown in the table, most of the undergraduates spend an
average of 2 to 3 hours daily on social media platforms (31%), while 24% spend an
average of 1 to 2 hours daily.

Table.3. The following statements to the respondents are given below

Statements to the respondents Yes (%) No (%) Total (%)
Does social media play a role in bringing social change on undergraduates
94(94%) 6(6%) 100%
Increase in use of social media can lead to social change In undergraduate
86(86%) 14(14%) 100%
Can social media enhance communication and be used as a positive tool to
undergraduate 86(86%) 14(14%) 100%
Does use of social media enable undergraduate to collaborate and build
relationships 79(79%) 31(31%) 100%
Do respondent use social media 76(76%) 24(76%) 100%
Do respondent use social media to communicate with their teachers 84(84%)
16(16%) 100%
Social media’s unwanted information creates confusion in the mind of
undergraduates 81(81%) 19(19%) 100%
With too much use of social media, undergraduates lose their connection with
their family 81(81%) 19(19%) 100%
Social sites have directly influenced the behavior of undergraduates 92(92%)
8(8%) 100%
Too much use of Social Media causes Health problems to undergraduate
92(92%) 8(8%) 100%
Social media made study easy for youngster 83(83%) 17(17%) 100%
Social media helps in education sites, Business sites and other sites in a
positive way 92(92%) 8(8%) 100%
There are so many good stuff and entertainment information in social sites
92(92%) 8(8%) 100%
Social media usage is good for spreading awareness 88(88%) 12(12%)
100%
Positive impacts of social media can over shadow the daily human life.
81(81%) 19(19%) 100%
100%
Table 3:, 94% of respondents said
that social media play a role in bringing about social change because it helps
students save time
while also assisting them in their studies, and an increase in the use of social
media can lead to
social change (86%).A research study conducted by (Lerman et al., 2016) found that
undergraduate are
more at ease using digital media and avoiding social engagement. 86% of the
respondents said
that social media can enhance communication and be used as a positive tool as shown
in above
Table.3.
79% of the respondents said that the use of social media enables undergraduates to
collaborate and build
relationships. According to another study, the majority (90%) of students
preferred using
Facebook. Social media was utilized by them to build global social networks
and exchange
academic activities. They shared their learning experiences through these
mediums with their
peers and the global community. (Hussaain, 2012) From the present
research, 76% of the
respondents said that they frequently use social media.
Only 84% of respondents said that they use social media to communicate with their
teachers. In
this scenario, they communicate to their concerned teachers some
conditions like strikes,
postponed papers, boycotts, or information about the curriculum. In
contrast, 81% of the
respondents said that social media’s unwanted information creates confusion
in the minds of
youth and also causes them to lose their connection with their family. It is
observed that due to
social media, adolescents are not providing moral support to their loved ones,
which has caused
bad relationships among them. (Lerman et al., 2016)
Children’s health and development are being negatively impacted by screen
time, which also
results in a variety of mental and behavioral problems. Table (Farooq & Bashir,
2021).1. 92% of participants stated that social media has had a direct influence on
the behavior of undergraduates .Recent
surveys reveal that average users of social media spend 90 minutes each day on
the platform.
(Shortell, 2001).
92% of the respondents said that social media helps education sites, business
sites, and other
sites in a positive way. If people use social media in a positive way, it will be
safe and beneficial
to them; in this regard, parents and teachers should periodically guide and monitor
their children
and students.As far as 88% of the participants were concerned, social media usage
is good for
spreading awareness in all aspects like educational, political, cultural, social,
economic, etc. 66%
of respondents said that they are addicted to social media, as shown in Table 3.
According to
Salmon and Timperio (2007), undergraduate and adolescents spend less time outside
and exercise less.
According to Selwyn’s (2009) qualitative study on university students in
the United Kingdom
using Facebook, they utilized it to share information, provide moral support,
and, ironically,
promote themselves as academically inept or disinterested. In the current
study, 84% of
respondents said that social media has become a source of extremism in youth, and
89% said that
it has caused various psychological problems in people. The researchers (Ybarra
et al., 2005)
found that depression and other symptoms are increased by the excessive use of
social media.
According to Prensky (2001), there is a direct correlation between young people’s
behavior and
social media.
According to Ahmed & Qazi (2011), using social media applications has an impact on
students'
academic performance. However, it's also true that students frequently use
social networking
sites while in class, which is a worrying development. 80% of the respondents said
that social
workers provide support and advice to people to bring about social change. Khan
(2009) claims
that Facebook users frequently have low academic achievement.

Discussion of Findings

It has been found that social media can be a powerful tool for students to connect
with others, raise awareness about important issues, and even mobilize for social
change. It provides a platform for sharing ideas, organizing events, and creating
communities. It also offers opportunities for professional development, networking,
and collaboration. Social media can truly be a game-changer for undergraduate
students!

Several studies have shown that social media platforms provide undergraduates with
a powerful tool for connecting with others, raising awareness about social issues,
and driving positive change in their communities.

One common finding is that social media allows undergraduates to engage in

meaningful conversations and discussions on various topics. It provides them with a
platform to share their opinions, perspectives, and experiences, fostering a sense
of community and belonging. Through social media, students can also connect with
like-minded individuals and form networks for collaboration and activism.

Another important finding is the role of social media in raising awareness about
social issues. Undergraduates can use platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and
Facebook to share information, news, and resources related to important causes.
This helps in spreading awareness, mobilizing support, and encouraging action among
their peers and the wider community.

Moreover, social media has been found to empower undergraduate students to initiate
social change. By leveraging the reach and influence of social media, students can
organize and participate in campaigns, events, and movements that address social
injustices and promote positive transformations. It allows them to amplify their
voices and make a real impact on the issues they care about.

Overall, the findings and discussions highlight the potential of social media as a
tool for undergraduate students to engage in social issues and drive meaningful
change. It's exciting to see how these platforms can empower young individuals to
make a difference in their communities.

Conclusion of the research

Anything that is used within limits and in the proper manner is beneficial,
including social media. As a result, it is an important part of one's life if used
properly; having social media will
be a good change for undergraduates if we can use it wisely. The effects of social
media are very complex and
vary from person to person, but they directly affect undergraduate ' mental
health, such as anxiety,
depression, low grades, and aggressiveness. Based on our data, we found that
many students
either experience negative effects or notice them in other people. Many students
harnessed the
power of social media for positive purposes such as taking notes and
communicating with
teachers.