The impact of social media platforms on the dissemination of information : TVET college students’ perspectives

Abstract

The study examined the impact of social media platforms on information dissemination from the perspectives of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) College students, focusing on their access, interaction and dissemination of information. Descriptive and inferential statistical methods were employed to analyse the data, providing both a broad overview of social media usage trends and a deeper understanding of the factors that influence how information is shared and received on social media platforms. Simple random sampling was used to extract 271 respondents for the study from a population of approximately 842 respondents at a selected TVET college. The quantitative research approach was adopted, and questionnaires were used as the main data collection instrument, for which the psychometric properties of validity were established using content and construct validity, as well as pilot testing. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (IBM SPSS Statistics version 29) was used to analyse the quantitative data. The quantitative findings indicated that TVET college students are influenced by social media platforms, with the majority of students indicating that it is important to re-share information posted on social media by other users. In addition, findings suggested that most students do not partake in the sharing of false information on social media. Moreover, the study established that most students use social media to know what is happening around the world. The findings also identified WhatsApp as the most frequently utilised platform for accessing information. The findings further revealed varying perspectives on the nature of information shared on social media by the students, with some participants expressing concerns about credibility and accuracy, while others acknowledged the value of social media, and some exhibited scepticism regarding controversial content and misinformation. Lastly, the study identified a significant relationship between gender and the usage of social media. The study underscored the need for strategic interventions by social media companies to enhance the educational potential of these platforms and to mitigate the spread of misinformation. It recommends digital literacy initiatives, responsible sharing practices, collaboration with influencers, increased transparency, promotion of corrective behaviour and diversification of information sources.