INFLUENCE OF MEDIA LITERACY SKILLS ON SOCIAL MEDIA USE BY UNDERGRADUATE IN TWO UNIVERSITIES IN DELTA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Undergraduates could use social media for academic activities and social purposes. However, literature established that most undergraduates use the social media more for non-educational purposes. This could be traced to their media literacy skills. Previous studies focused largely on the use of social media by undergraduates, with little consideration on the influence of media literacy skills. Thus, this study examined Influence of Media Literacy Skills (MLS), on use of Social Media (SM) by undergraduates in two universities in Delta State, Nigeria. Descriptive survey design of the correlational type was adopted and population was undergraduates from Delta State University (DELSU-22,125) and Michael and Cecilia Ibru University (MCIU-88), Delta State. A two-stage random sampling technique was used to get the sample size of 340 for data  collection using questionnaire data was analysed using  frequencies, mean, standard deviation, Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation. The 200 level students 159 (52.3%) participated more in DELSU and 300 level 9 (81.8%) in MCIU. Results revealed high MLS in DELSU (=49.05) and MCIU (=51.27). Majority needed information on SM to pass examination (DELSU-=3.63, MCIU==3.45), used WhatsApp (DELSU-=3.72; MCIU-=3.82), chat with friends (DELSU-=3.64; MCIU-=3.73) and daily (DELSU-78.9% and MCIU- 54.5%). The major challenges were expensive Internet subscription in DELSU (=3.43) and poor internet connection in MCIU (=3.18). MLS significantly and positively predicted SM use in DELSU (r=.306**^; p< 0.01) and MCIU (r = .604*^; p< 0.05). MLS determined SM use by the undergraduates. The Information and Communication Technology unit of the universities should liaise with lecturers and librarians in organising training on the appropriate use of social media by undergraduates