The Use of Social Media as Learning Media among High School Student: A Case study of Pangkajene and Islands

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the use of social media as an alternative media in student education. It employs qualitative method and data was collected through direct interviews, focus group discussions and daily observations. The study was conducted in Pangkajene Regency. The results showed that there were differences in social media use between students from Senior High School 1 Liukang Tupabiring Utara and Senior High School 2 Pangkajene. These differences can be associated to geographical factors leading to a discrepency in internet accessibility that ultimately affected social media usage behavior. Data shows that the majority of students of Senior High School 1 Liukang Tupabbiring Utara, which is located on the small island of Sagara roughly 4.5 kilometers from the Makassar coastline, did not use social media for educational purposes with many claiming to have never sought out educational information through social media. This is in stark contrast to the social media usage behavior of students in Senior High School 2 Pangkajene, which is several kilometers inland on the South Sulawesi mainland, who were far more likely to use social media for learning.