Social Media Use, Trust, and Perceived News Value among Private University Students in the Bangkok Metropolitan Area
Keywords:
social media use, trust, perceived news value, university students, media literacy, international studentsAbstract
This study aimed to examine the relationship between social media usage, trust, and perceived news value among international students in private universities in Thailand, as well as to identify strategies for enhancing media literacy and building trust in digital news. A mixed-methods approach was employed, consisting of quantitative research using quota-based convenience sampling. International students were selected from three private universities in Bangkok, categorized by institutional size—large, medium, and small—with proportional sample allocation, totaling 400 participants. Additionally, in-depth interviews were conducted with 25 students.
Quantitative findings revealed that international students demonstrated high levels of social media usage (M = 4.12), trust (M = 3.78), and perceived news value (M = 3.95). Perceived news value significantly influenced trust (r = .48, p < .001; β = .45, p < .001), with trust serving as a key mediating variable in the relationship between social media usage and news evaluation (Indirect Effect β = .21, 95% CI [.15, .29]). The qualitative findings supported these results by highlighting media consumption behavior and trust in news sources. The study proposed strategies to enhance media literacy through training in news analysis, fact-checking, language skills development, and participatory learning within diverse cultural contexts, aiming to promote critical and safe news consumption behavior.
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