Media Literacy: Social Network Usage Behaviors of Public Administration Majors in Prince of Songkla University Suratthani Campus

Abstract

The objectives of this research were 1) to explore media literacy and 2) to explore social networking behavior and the impact of using social networking for Public Administration majors 3) to explore relationship between media literacy and social networking behavior and the impact of using social networking for Public Administration majors and 4) to how to prevent the effects of using social networks.The subjects of this study were the Public Administration major in Prince of Songkla University SuratThani Campus. The quantitative method with questionnaires was used to find the answers to the research questions. The findings were presented as percentages, mean scores, standard deviations and the Pearson’s coefficient.

In the finding section, the subjects have the overall media literacy at a high level. They had high levels of social networking usage behavior and were least affected by their use of social networking. It was found that 1) the subjects' media literacy such as 1) making use of the media, 2) understanding the media, 3) media evaluation, 4) media analysis accordingly, all have a strong positive relationship with the social network usage behavior. Their media evaluation was proved to have a very strong positive relationship with the effects from using the social network in the area of living and health.

The results of this study provide guidelines for preventing the effects of using social networks by promoting education on how to use social networks in a creative way to ensure that the students have media literacy. Educators can incorporate learning content into the curriculum to create the citizens who have the media literacy and consume the media, especially the media in the social networks properly.