ONLINE SOCIAL NETWORK

AND ITS IMPACT ON COLLEGE STUDENTS

A thesis submitted to

Poly-Tech MARA University College – Kuala Lumpur

In partial fulfillment of

The requirements for the

Diploma in Corporate Communication

By

Zeus Jolo Amparo Rectra

Khairil Danial bin Kaswadi

Raja Nur Danial bin Raja Azhar Lotfie

Information Technology Skills and Application Lecturer

Mdm. Noraliza Azizan

January 2018
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Table of Contents

Acknowledgements 3

Abstract 4

Chapter 1: Introduction 5

Chapter 2: Conceptual Framework 7

Chapter 3: Review of Related Literature 8

Chapter 4: Data Presentation and Analysis 11

Chapter 5: Research Finding 15

Chapter 6: Suggestion and Recommendation 17

Chapter 7: Summary 18

Chapter 8: References 20

Appendix 21

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Acknowledgements
In the very first place, we would like to appreciately thank and gratefully acknowledge
the sincere encouragement and supervision of our very own lecturer of this study,
Mdm. Noraliza Azizan. Her guidance and faith of this assignment made this formidable work
an exceptionally rewarding experience. We really want to sincerely and heartily thank you very
much for your supervision and consultation from the very starting phase of this newfound
research as well as providing us breathtaking experiences throughout this wonderful and
amazing work. Thank you so much for the present and thoughts of learning that you have
given us.

We want to acknowledge also the various people and sources who have supervised,
guided and supported us through the completion of this task given by our kind-hearted lecturer
in Information Technology Skills and Application under the program of Diploma in Corporate
Communication, Mdm. Noraliza Azizan.

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Abstract

Through this era of globalization, as the social media networking sites continue to shift and
evolve in growth of mass popularity, it is our proposition that technology today is a fundamental
part of today’s education and student’s progress to accomplishment statement. This study
observed the application and usage of social networking sites or for short, SNS, among college
students.

As for respondents’ point of view towards the influence of Online Social Network usage on
their performance of their academics, a wide variation was discovered based on age of the
users. A higher percentage of younger students have reported pessimistic point of views of
the impact of online social network on their academic performance. Results revealed as well
that there were actually compelling relationships among users’ rank in the class and also in
their field of their studies; thus online social network. Data also proved and stated that
student’s thoughts and point of views towards the influence of the online social network were
consistent with the absolute impact as shown by the data.

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Chapter 1: Introduction
College students are exclusive community. Occupying a centrism from their childhood
to adulthood, among leisure and work, college students have been at the limelight of social
transition since the end of the Second World War. They were amidst the first group of people
to have an access of usage of the Internet for communication purposes, file sharing and
recreation, and the premier ones to have access to the internet through regular broadband.
Internet usage primal became rampant on college and universities in the 1990s, and in various
methods the Internet is a forthright outcome of college-based research. Facebook, Yahoo!,
Napster and many other internet platform tools were created by college students, and while
the majority of students in college are commonly users of the Internet, they can be expressed
as pioneers.

New advancements in the world of globalization and technological world have made
the Internet an efficient way for everyone to communicate. Online Social Networks have
created a circumstance on the Internet that has received reputation over the last decade.
People use social networking sites like Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and Myspace to build
and preserve relationships with others (Boyd & Ellison, 2007). These social media platforms
let their users to create their own personal profiles, in the time of connecting with other people
that are users also of the said platforms. Users can upload media such as photos, post what
they are doing in their life anytime, and also send private or personal messages to anybody
they want. In this “age of information”, online social networks seem to be growing and evolving
rapidly in terms of reputation, especially among the young adults (Pempek, Yermolayeva, &
Calvert, 2008)

Lenhart, Purcell, Smith, and Zickhur (2010) discovered that almost 72% of all college
students have social media profiles with remaining 45% of college students using a social
media platform at least once a day. Many of them use online social networks to communicate
with their loved ones such as their friends, family, and even strangers. Social media platforms
have established new and non-personal methods for people to connect with others and these
young adults have taken advantage of this technological trend. The main principle of this study
was to investigate the positive and negative effects of online social networks on a college
student.

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Significance of Study

This field of study is crucial because sociability is an elemental thought in using types
of social media. Since this phenomenon or breakthrough of social media is continuing to
evolve at a rapid rate, it is very important to perceive the impact it has on communication
personally. Online social networks contribute a direct method to converse with people around
you and get their feedback, as well, which may influence an individual young-adult’s self-
esteem. For example, Facebook is used mainly by students to preserve relationships with
other people they are acquainted with who live anywhere. Social media make it easier also
for people to overseer activities of others they haven’t seen In a while as reconnecting with
new and old friends as well.

Research Questions
1. What is the extent usage of online social network among college students?
2. Is there a relationship between extent of usage of social media and Education?
3. The impact of online social network on college students.

The goal of this thesis research was to gain knowledge about the effect of the Internet on the
daily lives of College students, and to identify the effect of that usage on their routines socially
and academically.

Objectives
The objectives of this thesis is to identify the following in order to assist the derived
results of the research problem.
a. To find the students awareness of online social networks.
b. To find for what purposes the students are using online social networks.
c. To find effects of social networks on studies of the college students.
d. To find student’s thoughts on how online social networks can be used in a good way
for educational purposes.
e. To find average time spend on social networks by college students.
f. To find average expenditure spend by students on sustenance in online social
network.

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Chapter 2: Conceptual Framework

The basic Conceptual framework which was followed throughout the thesis report is
drawn below.

Social media has evolved many previous steps in this technological era like the
expanding the capacity to the field of learning and teaching. This research work aims to
determine the thoughts and opinions of college students on how it is advantageous social
networks is to them, their social media awareness, impact of social media on studies of the
college students and their patterns of usage. The research results and learning in college.
Study of three previous works done in this field is briefly reviewed below with the proposed
frameworks.

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Chapter 3: Review of Related Literature

First of all, Hwee (n.d.) proposed a framework deriving his discovery found as results
of studying only one secondary school throughout Singapore and hypothesize the finding. The
author recognizes key factors of level of comfort, trust, language command, attitude towards
image and work, as additional elements that would influence the adoption of Online Social
Networks. The school which the experimentation is based on is the very first primary school
that was set up under the FutureSchool@Singapore program. The core mission of the school
is to aim effective and innovative way of teaching that support on technologies to better
connect the new generation of students. The engaged young students in a key efficient
approach of teaching used by this school for the learning of media literacy skills and
languages.

The completed projects of the students, activities were monitored in the school network
and the internet through publishing, via blogging platforms, so that audience especially
parents could view and also dispense their thoughts through comments and some words of
encouragement. Lecturers facilitated learners to learn with Information and Communications
Technology or for short, ICT; production and collaboration. All students from the 4th level
primary classes engaged in an online questionnaire on their usage frequency for:
1. ICT
2. Learning management system
3. Blogs
4. Online games and applications
5. Online social networking platforms (e.g., chat and forum)
In school for the learning of Math and English. The frequency of usage is based on Likert-
Scale of 1 to 7 as stated below on the given diagram.

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Venkatesh et al. (2003) integrated eight technology models of acceptance to put forward a
groundwork known as the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT).
This model envelops the factors performance expectancy, expectancy effort, social influence,
facilitating conditions and behavioral intention and gender, age, voluntaries, experience were
used to measure the influences on the factors. It’s identify the lack of key circumstantial factors
when it comes to the use and performance of social networks. However, Indicators such as
policy and culture and financial support were not ventilated in the work of Venkatesh et al.
(2003).

The work conferred by Monguatosha et al.(2011) ventilates budgeting and accountability in

addition to the existing factors on the upper declared UTAUT model. The Technology
Acceptance Model (TAM) was used in the recommendation made by Monguatosha et
al.(2011). But the researchers did not expand their research on performance and conservation
of ICT infrastructures, cultural influences, policies on the adoption of technology and social
network usage on education.

Stella Wen Tian of the University of Science & Technology of China (Suzhou Campus) and
Angela Yan Yu, Douglas Vogel and Ron Chi-Wai Kwok of City University of Hong Kong
suggested that online social networking sites, such as Facebook, can help students become
academically and socially combined as well as improving learning outcomes. The researchers
explain that Facebook usage is around 90% across campuses and many educational
institutions. Students reported that it could strengthen and uphold friendships, build social
networks/establish virtual relationships, reduce barriers to make new friends, follow peer
trends, share photos for fun and leisure and to keep in touch with family. In terms of learning,
students reported that Facebook allow them to connect with the faculty and other students in
term of friendship or social relationship, provide comments to peers or share proficiency, share
feelings with friends, join groups created for subjects, receive notification, discussion, class
schedule, assignment management calendar and to use educational applications for
organizing learning activities.

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The following figure indicates statistics regarding social media usage based on a research
that carried in USA using adult internet users as the population.

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Chapter 4: Data Presentation and Analysis

Based on the results we can assure that multimedia students use social media other due to
fact that they are much more exposed to the computer and internet and they are interactively
participating for social media events.

Considering the following question, from the questionnaire that was given, we can assure that
most students have a personal computer, laptop or smart phone to surf net. Based on the
sample it is 92.5.

Do you have personal Computer or Laptop

Frequency Percent Valid Cumulative

percent percent
yes 11 92.5 92.5 92.5

2 7.5 7.5 7.5

no

13 100.0 100.0
total

About 72.5% from the sample uses more than one social network. Only 22.5% use just
Facebook.

What social media you use

frequency percent Valid Cumulative
Facebook percent percent
ALL 3 22.5 22.5 22.5
1 5.0 5.0 27.5
Valid more
than one 9 72.5 72.5 100.0
13 100.0 100.0

Total

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Based on the research sample more than 75% use social medias less than or equal 3 hours
50% of the students use less than 1 hour.
Most of students use online social networks around 8.00pm to 12.00am. Because around this
hour the student must be in their free time of the day and also most service providers provide
cheaper cost data bundle allocated for this time slot.

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Most of students use online social networks not only for the education purposes. Majority use
more than one purpose.

For what purposes do you use social media?

frequency percent Valid percent Cumulative

percent
Chat with friend 1 7.5 7.5 7.5
Educational 4 17.5 17.5 25.0
More than 1 8 75.0 75.0 100.0
total 13 100.0 100.0

We asked them about “Do you believe that you’re addicted to social medias”, 45% of students
gave positive answers which they believe that they are addicted to social medias.

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Do you believe you are addicted to social media?

frequency percent Valid Cumulative

percent percent
Yes 5 45.0 45.0 45.0
No 7 52.5 52.5 97.5
Valid no 1 2.5 2.5 100.0
Idea
Total 13 100.0 100.0

Statistics shows 52.5% believe that social media can be used efficiently and effectively for
teaching and learning purposes.

Therefore, we can indicate the majority of the students use social media productively and they
are equipped with positive attitudes.
Finally, we can say other students can be inspire to use social medias on a beneficial manner.

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Chapter 5: Research Finding

Social media usage categorized by the course

Based on the data analysis it was clear that students of ICT based course such as Corporate
Communication use social media much higher percentage than other courses. Because of
their course structure ICT students work with Social media and online tools more than others.

Social networks usage through personal computer, laptop or smart phone

Students who use their own personal computer, laptop, tablets or smart phones to access
social media is 92.5%. This prove that the majority of the students’ technology have their own
facilities to access internet and social media. This indicator detailed that most students are
exposed to internet and social media through technology.

Most used social media network

Since determining how social media can be of effective use in education it is important to
identify what is the most used social media by students so with that information it is possible
to create an effective learning method where majority of students can participate. The
research shows that the majority of students use Facebook as a social media. 22.5% of
students only use Facebook while 27.5% of students use all the social networks which we
mediated (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram) in the research.

Time of social media usage

Based on the researchers’ sample more than 75% use social media less than or equal 3 hours.
50% of the students use less than 1 hour. This factor depicts that the majority of students use
remarkably time on social networks. This time can be change to a valuable learning
experience through the help of social media.

Most of Students use social networks during 8.00pm to 12.00am because this time slot
happened to be their free time of day schedule. This factor is important when planning real
time learning experiences.

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Addiction to social media

45% of students gave positive opinions which state that they do believe that they are addicted
to online social network platforms such as the social media.

Student purposes for using social media

Generally, online social network usage can be curated in two sectors; as social, entertainment
purposes and educational purposes. College students use information technology tools for
few motive such as engaging with friends, family, getting update of news, event notifications,
entertainment, and many more.

It was transparent through the research that college students use social media for both upper
mentioned motives. Even though Some lecturers feel that social networking is actually
disruptive to the education process the research shows that most of the students already use
social media for educational purposes. 52.5% students believe that their studies are impacted
by the use of online social networks in a optimistically. Most of them believe that the online
social media networking platforms can be used for educational purposes and it will be a
success.

Elements such as students’ financial status, knowledge to technology, reputation of social

media among students, freewill to use online social networks and attitudes about the social
media were influencing the implementation of online social networking for teaching.

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Chapter 6: Suggestion and Recommendation

Development and Improvement of usage of social media networks

for educational purposes within College.

Usage of social media network for educational purposes should be given more attention within
the university. There are a variety of methodological approaches that can be used, especially
study groups, community and forums. When will real time learning experience such as online
discussion is proposed the most ideal time would be from evening to night because many
students are free during that time. Since a lot of students have access to the internet, learning
and teaching activities should most definitely be encouraging. Facebook is the most use and
popular social network among students so, if we conduct an activity based on Facebook might
be highly successful with better participation by students. The university authorities should
organize seminars and workshops that will improve the user’s knowledge based on how to
use social media for teaching and learning. A group of people should be assigned to measure
the progress of the use of technology. Material that can be shared through social media will
be a highly valued learning experience.

Improvement of ICT Infrastructure within College.

Another suggestion would be to enhance the speed of the internet with a better network to
help students be more exposed to social network technologies in general. Enhancing the ICT
structure will steer students and lecturers to use more social media based learning activities
which may increase the student’s positive attitudes towards learning. Hotspots should be
created on campus where students can use freely. Universities need to consider an effective
way on how to make laptops available for all of their students since students prefer to use their
own laptops and smart phones to access the internet. When every student has their own
laptop, it will encourage them to do their assignments and submit them on time.

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Chapter 7: Summary

This study was conducted to examine the usage and implications of social networking sites
among university students. Results shown that female college students spent more time on
social network than male college students. Although, the time spent on social network slowly
decreases once they grow older with age. A great number of students of younger students
reported negatively on the perception of the effect of social network on their academic
performances.

Some data was also revealed that student’s perceptions of the social network that can be
influenced were consistent with the actual effects as exposed by the findings.

Although, this research was conducted on a bunch of random people and thereby limiting the
ability to generalized the results to the larger population. If we conduct a future research with
a bunch of random people, it could bring the focus on additional dimensions of social network
usage and of course the student’s work schedules, extracurricular activities and their
interrelationships. By conducting this research, we have explored the issues of social networks
and its implications in only a few variables. More research would focus on a much wider
spectrum of dimensions relating to social network usage and its implications for the lives of all
ages.

In today’s day and age, digital social media networks highly effect for the human activities and
behaviors. According to a survey conducted by a group of people, nearly one in four people
worldwide use social networks. The amount of people who use social network will rise at a
fast pace from 1.47 billion in 2012 to 1.73 this year, an 18% increase. The global social
network audience will be a total of 2.55 billion in the year 2017. The current study shows that
Facebook and e-mail were the social network websites of choice, with 99% of college students
using Facebook and 90% using e-mail.

The participants in this study indicated that the websites that they frequent most was Twitter
and Facebook. Majority of college students visit their social networking sites several times a
day as found in a research that was done by Sheldon (2008) and Quan-Haase and Young
(2010). The most important reason given as to why college students were using social
networking websites was to communicate with family and friends.

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People also use it for when they want some entertainment or are bored. Facebook and other
websites can be used to pass time, be entertained and maintain existing relationship with
people and also to occupy their free time.

Social media sites are commonly used among students to communicate with friends and
family. Moreover, communicating with friends and family who live half-way across the world is
more convenient via a computer. Wall posts and status updates were the most common ways
to communicate but, students also often send private messages and posted photographs as
well. Participants in this study reported that communicating with friends and family on social
media websites is easier than meeting them in person.

Some students though, are in fact addicted to social media but are not aware of it. They think
of it as a common behavior of students. Use for E-Learning and M-Learning methods through
social media can be an orthodox way of using it with a low cost method. Addiction can be a
positive thing if used for those reasons.

They survey also showed that students often log in to their social media accounts during
lecture time. This may affect their studies even though they do not think that it has. From this
research, it was found that social media can be used constructively to better their education
as university students.

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Chapter 8: References

 Facebook. (2011). Facebook.com Statistics. Retrieved from

http://www.facebook.com/press/info.php?statistics
 Foregger, S. K. (2008). Uses and gratifications of facebook.com Doctoral
dissertation,Michigan State University
 Gerlich, R. N., Browning, L., & Westermann, L. (2010, November). The social
media affinity scale: implications for education. Contemporary Issues in
Education Research, 3(11), 35-41. Retrieved November 28, 2011
 http://www.pewinternet.org/fact-sheets/social-networking-fact-sheet/
 http://www.edudemic.com/social-media-in-education/
 www.scientificjournals.org/Journals2011/articles/1508.pdf
 www.unh.edu/news/.../UNHsocialmedia.pdf
 www.canberra.edu.au/.../Feeling-Better-Connecte.
 mds.marshall.edu
 www.webology.org/2010/v7n2/a79.html
 www.aabri.com/manuscripts/
 scholarsarchive.jwu.edu

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Appendix
Task Crew Dateline
Research Zeus, Khairil, Raja 8/03/2018
Compose report Zeus, Khairil, Raja 10/03/2018
Check report Zeus 20/03/2018
Add graphics Zeus, Khairil 13/03/2018
Cover design Zeus 06/03/2018
Print + bind Zeus, Khairil, Raja 21/03/2018

Diary

6 March 2018 – First Meeting

Venue: Student Square, Level 4

Time: 12.00pm

We divided the sectors to be fairly done by the three of us, and discussed a little bit about
the plan on how to do the research for the thesis.

8 March 2018 – Research

Venue: Food Stall, nearby the campus

Time: 1.00pm

We started brainstorming and do a research for the thesis and decided to make our section
the main audience of our polls and we also curated the websites that we’re going to get some
information for reference.

20 March 2018 – Finalization

Venue: CR4.7 (After English Class), Mont Kiara (Zeus’ Home)

Time: 10.00am, 10.30pm

We compiled all of our parts that we worked on together and finalized the whole thesis by
the night, so tomorrow it will be ready for binding and so that we can submit it already by the
afternoon tomorrow (21 March 2018).

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