In the past several years, social media has become a primary aspect of everyday life. Social media is most commonly consumed by a younger crowd today, and the students of Capital University are not excluded in this generalization.
95% of 20 students questioned at the university stated that using social media is not just a one a day interaction. It has been found that these students check or use social media at least four times a day, every day.
The most commonly used social media platforms include Snapchat, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Almost 50 percent of a group of 41 students stated that Twitter is the platform in which they interact with the most. The second most commonly used platform was almost tied between Instagram and Snapchat, with Instagram at about 23 percent of students and Snapchat at a slightly higher 26 percent. Facebook usage only accounted for just about 5 percent of students.
Originally, social media was made for the sole purpose of connecting with others; however, it has shied away from that purpose. Almost 48 percent of 23 students stated that their use of social media was used merely for entertainment. About 35 percent stated that it was due to boredom. Only 17 percent of the students stated that their social media usage was for connecting with others.
Lindsey Stumpp, sophomore criminology, sociology, and psychology triple-major is one of many students who uses social media. She mainly uses social media platforms for boredom.
“Instagram is my favorite. You get to see the best of Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, and Tik Tok, all in one app,” Stumpp said.
Tori Green, first-year nursing major, has a different view. Social media is used for her entertainment. Her favorite social media platform is Twitter because she is able to relate to a lot of the content and enjoys the humor.
Zak Ohler, second-year biology pre-med major, enjoys Twitter as well, but views it from an intellectual standpoint. He uses Twitter due to the fact that he is able to connect with people and discuss today’s society, along with being able to see how others react to certain issues and topics.
“I also like the fact that I don’t have to know the people in order to hear their opinions,” Ohler said. “It’s nice to see different perspectives from different types of people.”
All three of these students’ views on social media differed. The habits of social media usage vary across different types of majors and ages, and is not limited. It’s only growing.
How do you social media?
