Social media: An opportunity for engaging undergraduates

Abstract

The rise of online social media within the past decade has had a profound influence on the way we connect with others and will likely continue to be a meaningful component of students' lives, campus culture, and the college experience. This large-scale study of students at four-year colleges and universities examines the engaging and disengaging use of social media sites (SMS) on campuses. Additionally, this study examines how SMS use varies by student characteristics and relates to other forms of educationally effective engagement. Results indicate that SMS use cuts equally across many, but not all, student characteristics. In addition, SMS use can be both a substantive distraction from engagement as well as a tool for increased positive engagement.