The use of academic social networking sites by undergraduate students of Fountain University, Osogbo, Nigeria

Abstract

Academic Social Networking Sites (ASNSs) became the choice platforms for academics after their emergence in the 1990s primarily for their capacity to accommodate academic integration of notable scholars, propel collaborative scientific activities and expose members to new trends in professional and research fields. It is therefore understandable why ASNSs are daily embraced by both established and aspiring scholars as well as students in academic institutions globally. It has been shown in literature overtimes that the awareness of technology does not necessarily indicate its use. Thiswork, therefore, examined the depth of awareness and use by undergraduate students of Fountain University of these academic sites. The study adopted quantitative methods with the use of a survey. The total population was 1900 students according to Unirank (a global entity known for its ranking of higher institutions of learning). Yaro Yahmen’s formula was adopted to arrive at a total of 330 sample size. Simple random sampling was used to pick the respondents for equal representation from the existing departments in the university, while a prepared questionnaire was administered virtually via Google form. After a period of four weeks, 312 of the expected respondents were returned and further interpreted and analyzed based on simple percentages and appropriate descriptive statistics. The findings reveal a strong awareness of the availability of ASNSs, while the platforms are regularly patronized despite the epileptic power supply and disruptible internet services. The Management, therefore, has a responsibility to facilitate the amelioration of the identified challenges.