SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS AS EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES AMONG THE BACHELOR OF SECONDARY EDUCATION AT BESTLINK COLLEGE OF THE PHILIPPINES

Abstract

Just a few years ago, social media platforms held little significance for students and teachers, often being viewed as a source of distraction or misbehavior. However, today, both educators and learners actively engage with social media for academic purposes. Schools are now adopting a new approach by integrating platforms like YouTube, Facebook, and TikTok into the education system.  This study aims to explore the use of social media platforms as educational resources among Bachelor of Secondary Education students at Bestlink College of the Philippines. This study utilized the purposive sampling technique, a non-probability sampling method in which researchers select respondents based on their judgment. Using this approach, 30 respondents were chosen. Data collection was conducted through a survey questionnaire, which was verified and approved by school heads and administrators. The collected data were then analyzed using appropriate statistical treatments. The results of this study show that among the 30 respondents, the majority were female, aged 20 to 26 years old. They primarily use Facebook and frequently use YouTube and TikTok as educational resources. The findings also indicate that students can easily discern the accuracy of information they acquire from social media. However, they trust books more than social media platforms for validity. Despite this, students actively seek factual and reliable information from social media. They also agreed that the perceived benefits of using social media for teaching and learning include consistent accessibility, smoother instruction, reduced preparation time, and overall high benefits. The demographic profile of the respondents shows that the majority were female, aged 20 to 26 years old, spending an average of three hours daily on social media. Facebook was the most frequently used platform, followed by TikTok and YouTube. While respondents generally trust the reliability of the information they acquire, they are more cautious about its accuracy and validity. The most perceived benefits of using social media for teaching and learning include consistent accessibility, reduced preparation time, and smoother instruction delivery.