Information sharing through social media platforms among higher learning institutions in Tanzania

Abstract

This study assessed the use of social media for exchanging knowledge and information by postgraduate students at four higher learning institutions in northern Tanzania. The study used a convergent research design to collect both quantitative and qualitative data concurrently. The population of the study comprised of 633 postgraduate students from which the samples of 239 was drawn. Simple random sampling was used to select postgraduate students to participate in the study. The online survey was used to obtain 171 responses from 239 postgraduate students. Data from interview sessions was obtained from eight (8) heads of academic staff purposefully selected to participate in the study. Quantitative data was analyzed through descriptive statistics while qualitative data was transcribed and subjected to content and thematic analyses using Atlasi Ti. The study establishes that postgraduate students were willing to exchange knowledge and information using social media to interact and socialize. Based on their willingness, the study revealed that social media offered various benefits to postgraduate students, including timely access to knowledge and information, collaborative learning, strengthening their knowledge base and enhancing their academic performance. Among other recommendations, the selected tertiary institutions need to formulate social media usage policies to guide postgraduate students on the use of such platforms. This includes informing them of the risks associated with the use of social media and alternative ways of avoiding such risks.