Social Networks and Their Impact on Higher Education

Abstract

Social network platforms and technology apps for education have become essential in all educational environments and have acquired significant importance in high-education contexts due to their ability to encourage students' participation and strengthen ties within the academic community, institutional communication, and community participation, helping to enrich the educational experience, thus allowing greater dissemination and accessibility to information. The study carried out a descriptive approach, starting from observing and applying a survey to students, generating quantitative and qualitative research to obtain a deeper and more complete understanding. This research aims to determine the impact of social networks on higher education. For this purpose, 650 graduate students of the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador – located in Manabí, were surveyed using observation and virtual surveys. The results showed that social media significantly influence the daily lives of students (76%). Regarding the educational use of digital communication platforms, they are widely used for academic tasks (54%) and the exchange of educational links (30%). WhatsApp (28%) and Facebook (25%) were the most used platforms. These tools offer advantages such as access to educational resources and facilitate collaborative learning; it is necessary to mention that these platforms also present challenges such as distraction and access to unverified information, for which it is necessary to address these challenges and maximize the benefits of social networks in higher education. Social networks have a positive impact because they facilitate communication and allow access to educational resources, which contribute to academic success and personal growth of students, positively affecting academic performance.