Libraries at University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Abstract
This study explores the use of social media by Library and Information Science (LIS) undergraduates which gives them the opportunity to share knowledge with their colleagues and also benefit from interactions with individuals within and outside the country. Despite these benefits, studies have reported that some undergraduates including those in Library and Information Science (LIS), misuse the social media and engage in cybercrime, pornography etc. This could be a function of their media literacy skills (MLS). The study examined media literacy skills and use of social media by undergraduates in two universities in Ibadan, Nigeria. The descriptive survey research design of the correlational type was adopted for this study. The population consisted of 313 LIS undergraduates of University of Ibadan and Lead City University, Ibadan. The total enumeration technique was used. Data was collected with the aid of questionnaire and descriptive and inferential statistics were used in presenting the data for the study. The study showed that the level of media literacy skills of the respondents was high overall (π₯Μ = 54.7) as against the threshold of 64. Majority of the LIS undergraduates used social media to get relief from academic stress (π₯Μ = 3.55) and to get current information for social events (π₯Μ = 3.52). WhatsApp 264(90.4%), Facebook 190(65.1%) and Instagram 183(62.7%) were used daily. The challenges faced by most of the respondents in the use of social media were; high internet connectivity (π₯Μ = 3.20) and poor internet connectivity (π₯Μ = 3.12). There was significant relationship between media literacy skills and use of social media by LIS undergraduates in two universities in Ibadan (r = .439*, df =291, p