This study employed an ex post facto descriptive survey research design to examine the use and impact of social media tools (SMTs) in the provision of library services among academic librarians in state-owned polytechnics in North-East Nigeria. The instrument's reliability was confirmed with a robust Cronbach's Alpha value of 0.89. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). The findings revealed a high adoption rate and significant experience in social media use among librarians in the region. WhatsApp and Facebook were identified as the most popular and user-friendly tools for library services. While librarians overwhelmingly reported a positive perception and high impact of social media on their services, a critical analysis of the data showed a weak and statistically non-significant positive relationship between social media use and its perceived impact (r=0.184, p>0.05). The study found a statistically significant impact only on specific services, such as teaching basic library search tools and facilitating user inquiries. The study recommends that future research with a larger sample size be conducted to bridge the gap between perception and verifiable outcomes

The study explores the use of social media tools in public relations to promote the 2023 Calabar Carnival, a significant cultural event in Nigeria. It utilises Uses and Gratification and Technological Determinism theories to analyse the phenomena and draw conclusions. Through qualitative research via Focus Group Discussions, the study examined the effectiveness of social media and public relations strategies in enhancing attendee experiences and promoting the event. Thematic analysis of the data revealed that social media significantly boosted public relations efforts, leading to increased followers and engagement, as well as extensive media coverage. Notably, Facebook emerged as the most effective platform for engagement during the carnival. The study recommends leveraging additional platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube to enhance real-time engagement and user-generated content. It also advises event organisers to prioritise social media engagement, form influencer partnerships, and focus on building relationships with social media representatives while creating dynamic, engaging content.

This study aims to investigate the factors influencing the intention to use social media for learning among maritime students. It examines and applies the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) to examine key constructs such as perceived usefulness, ease of use, and enjoyment. The goal is to offer information that can guide the incorporation of social media into educational strategies in maritime and related fields. The study applies the TAM to explore students' intentions to use social media for learning. A questionnaire based on TAM constructs was administered to 104 maritime students at University Malaysia Terengganu. The data were analyzed to test hypotheses about the relationships among key factors, including perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and perceived enjoyment. The findings revealed that the most preferred social media platforms for learning are WhatsApp, YouTube, and Facebook. The model demonstrated a good fit, with seven out of nine hypotheses supported. However, perceived enjoyment did not significantly influence the intention to use or the attitude toward using social media for learning. The study is limited to maritime students at a single Malaysian university, which may affect the generalizability of the findings. Future research could explore diverse student populations and additional factors influencing social media adoption for learning. This study contributes to understanding how social media can be effectively integrated into educational practices. These insights provide practical guidance for designing learning models that leverage social media technologies to enhance educational outcomes. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------Cite this article: Mohammad, A. M., Sohaimi, N. A. F. B., Menhat, M. N. S., & Ariffin, E. H. (2026). Adoption of social media as a learning technology in maritime education. Maritime Technology and Research, 8(1), 281935. https://doi.org/10.33175/mtr.2026.281935 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ HighlightsThis study presented the most preferred social media platform for learning, according to maritime management students. WhatsApp is the most preferred social media platform for learning, followed by Facebook and YouTube. The findings explained the factors that influence ITU social media for learning among maritime students according to the extended TAM, which are PU, PEOU, JR, and ITU, whereas the other three factors consist of external variables, which are PE, EXP, and attitudes toward use. Additionally, attitudes toward use (AOU) are actually influenced by PU, PEOU, and PE factors, where students who are eager and responsible for their learning want to use social media tools to be easy to use and access, social media to be mostly user friendly, and sufficient information on certain subjects to be provided and be useful for group study or socializing with other friends.

Objective: Medical doctors frequently use their webpages to communicate with patients. The aim of this study is to eveluate the websites of Turkish gynecologists according to the Health on the Net Foundation Code of Conduct (HONcode) principles. Methods: The population of the study consists of 5739 gynecologists in Turkey. However, using a convenience sampling method, 608 gynecologists with websites were selected. The selected web pages of gynecologists were analyzed based on the HONcode criteria. In the study, the websites of obstetricians and gynecologists were evaluated according to the criteria of the HONcode principles between February 15, 2021 and May 15, 2021, and the obtained data were analyzed using a statistical software package program. Results: The findings show that 64% of gynecologists' websites did not adhere to HONcode principles. In addition, it was determined that among social media tools such as Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, obstetricians use Instagram the most (72%) and Twitter the least (19.2%). Further this research shows that 80.9% of gynecologists do not have their web pages in other languages. Furthermore 94.9% of gynecologists have visual contents like photographs and videos on their web pages and 8.1% have visual contents other than those belonging to their patients. Conclusion: The eight HONcode principles, the most frequently violated was found financial disclosure” while “confidentiality” was the least violated. In addition, it was determined that there was no ethical violation regarding the "advertising policy" principle. Ethical principles should be developed for gynecologists' websites.

With the development of social media tools and the widespread adoption of smart devices, social media has become a crucial information source for many individuals. However, the rapid dissemination of information can potentially influence users' behavioral intentions. This study explores the impact of the information dissemination mechanisms in interactive apps on users' behavioral intentions. Interactive apps exhibit instantaneous and diverse information characteristics, coupled with strong social attributes and the dissemination features of algorithmic recommendation mechanisms. These mechanisms exert a dual influence on users' behavioral intentions: high-quality information enhances users' positive behavioral intentions through the single-factor exposure effect, while false information misleads users into irrational behavioral intentions by evoking emotions, shaping subjective norms, and leading to cognitive solidification through information silos. Cross-platform dissemination further amplifies this negative impact. Based on this, the study proposes targeted countermeasures, including optimizing platform algorithms, improving user feedback channels, enhancing media literacy, and strengthening positive guidance, aimed at optimizing the information ecosystem of interactive apps.

This study investigates the efficacy of Instagram Reels in supporting vocabulary acquisition by German as a Foreign Language (GFL) students. A mixed-method research design was adopted, utilising quantitative and qualitative measures. A questionnaire was used to examine the use of Instagram Reels by 140 university GFL learners; all were attending courses in GFL at the University of Jordan. Of these, 60 sophomore-level (30 in the control group and 30 in the experimental group) students were recruited to participate in an empirical study to gauge the effect of Instagram-based instruction on German vocabulary acquisition. Pre- and post-tests were administered to measure vocabulary acquisition and use in context. The questionnaire results highlighted that Instagram is a popular tool among GFL learners and that the primary learning goals were academic purposes and personal interests. Participants preferred content focusing on daily language use rather than grammar or cultural aspects. Instagram Reels received positive feedback for improving language skills. The empirical results indicated that the experimental group outperformed the control group; they showed significant improvement in the ability to acquire vocabulary, with adjusted post-test mean scores greater for the experimental group. The study brings to the fore some pedagogical possibilities based on integrating widely used social media tools, in this case, Instagram, while teaching foreign languages. It calls, therefore, for educators to consider a more novel pedagogical approach, creating a more active and interactive environment for learning foreign languages. The study underlines that teaching practices need modification with regard to the changing times and prevailing digital practices that the learners of today’s world have become accustomed to.

This research paper aims to understand the political communication process via electronic social networks in general, and Facebook in particular, and its impact on electoral participation. The extensive and widespread use of social media has allowed election candidates to articulate their ideas, principles, and goals by promoting their election campaigns via Facebook. This has significantly impacted the target audience and, consequently, the level of electoral participation among youth. The importance of employing political communication to promote positive political participation is highlighted, particularly in the electoral process, which typically witnesses intense competition among candidates to win seats. Thus, candidates are able to professionally use social media tools to promote their electoral platform and reach the largest possible segment of voters.

Millets, often referred to as “smart food,” are considered beneficial for individuals, the environment and farmers. Despite their advantages, millet production and consumption have declined due to changes in dietary habits and lifestyle shifts, contributing to various nutritional and health issues. Recently, millets have regained popularity due to their numerous health benefits, environmental sustainability and role in promoting food security, as well as their low agricultural inputs, minimal water requirements and potential to provide food and nutritional security. The study aimed to assess both awareness and consumption patterns of millets among students. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from students in the disciplines of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition and Agricultural Engineering. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire and associations between categorical variables were analysed using the Chi-square test. Results revealed that 87.7 % of respondents were aware of millets, with 45.7 % acknowledging that social media plays a significant role in creating awareness about millets. Among the social media tools, the most prevalent source of millet awareness was food informative blogs (55.6 %), followed by Instagram (43.2 %) and WhatsApp (39.5 %). For respondents who consumed millets, the primary reasons for consumption were the high iron content (72.8 %) and its suitability for diabetics (61.7 %). Additionally, 69.1 % of respondents confirmed that they believed millets were healthy. The most common forms in which students consumed millets were dosa and ready-to-eat food, reported by 19.8 % and 17.3 % of respondents, respectively. These findings suggest that increased awareness about millets contributes to their consumption among students. Therefore, nutrition education on the benefits and uses of millets is crucial to promote their consumption further.

Professional Socialization of Students Using Social Media Tools

ABSTRACT This article examines the emergence of activist teachers’ leadership in Zimbabwe in 2020 under the #TeachersCan’tBreatheMovement (#TCBM), which mobilized through WhatsApp to demand salary increases during the restrictive COVID-19 lockdown. Despite state repression, economic instability, and hesitancy from union leadership, the #TCBM successfully organized a strike, demonstrating WhatsApp’s role as a key tool for coordination, mobilization, and education. Drawing on Darlington’s (2002) framework on activist leadership and rank-and-file mobilization, the study highlights how activist leaders framed grievances, fostered solidarity, and legitimized collective action. Unlike prior Zimbabwean social media movements led by well-known activists, such as Evan Mawarire’s #ThisFlag and Promise Mkhwananzi’s #Tajamuka/Sesjikile, the #TCBM was a grassroots initiative driven by rank-and-file teachers. The analysis is based on qualitative data, including in-depth interviews with key participants in the movement. This study contributes to scholarship on social media labour activism by examining how workers leverage WhatsApp for collective organizing under authoritarian conditions, building on cases such as the 2018 Brazilian truck drivers’ strike. It also contextualizes the economic crisis, illustrating how teachers’ salaries eroded by nearly 90%, necessitating urgent collective action. Finally, the study explores the #TCBM’s transformation into the Educators Union of Zimbabwe (EUZ), demonstrating how social media tools facilitate labour organizing beyond traditional union structures. These findings underscore WhatsApp’s broader potential as a mobilization tool in repressive contexts.

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic posed unprecedented challenges to healthcare systems globally, particularly in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs), making it difficult to provide regular care to people with SCI.ObjectiveThis paper aims to present the perspectives of healthcare professionals from LMICs on the use of telehealth and/or telerehabilitation in SCI care during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting its scope, tools, barriers, facilitators and future implications.MethodsA qualitative approach was employed to gather insights from seven leading SCI healthcare professionals from Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and South Africa through structured interviews and an online questionnaire. Secondary data from government reports, and peer-reviewed articles were also analyzed to contextualize the findings. This study focuses on narrative reporting without formal data analysis.ResultsHealthcare professionals utilized telehealth and/or telerehabilitation services for follow-ups, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, nursing care and other rehabilitation services (home modifications, peer counseling, and yoga). Commonly tools included WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Skype, Zoom and other video conferencing softwares. Barriers included poor internet connectivity, lack of standardized teleassessments and tele protocols, reimbursement issues, legal and privacy concerns.ConclusionsTelehealth and/or Telerehabilitation services have demonstrated their critical role in SCI care during COVID-19 pandemic in LMICs, offering ways to connect and maintain continuity of care through commonly used social media tools. To integrate telehealth as a viable and long-term model for future health crises in SCI care, it is essential to develop supportive policies, improve infrastructure, provide professional training, and establish standardized assessment measures and guidelines.

Social media are increasingly integrated into foreign language education, offering new opportunities for multimodal writing practice. However, most existing studies focus on English-language-dominated platforms that are often inaccessible to learners in non-English-speaking contexts like China. This study explores the impact of WeChat’s multimodal affordances on Chinese EFL undergraduates’ argumentative writing within the framework of the College English Test. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining a quasi-experimental design involving two classes (N=80) and semi-structured interviews conducted with nine students. Students in the experimental group significantly outperformed the control group in content (M=24.28 vs. 20.05; p< .01), organization (M=17.50 vs. 15.10; p< .01), and vocabulary (M=17.13 vs. 14.33; p< .01). Semi-structure interviews revealed that WeChat multimodal features enhanced clarity, creativity, and motivation but also led to distractions and revealed students limited multimodal literacy. This is the first known study to examine WeChat’s multimodal affordances across specific dimensions of EFL writing in a Chinese context. Results demonstrate that WeChat’s combination of text, audio, and visual features yields substantial gains in content development, vocabulary use, and organizational clarity, while gains in grammar and mechanics remain modest, highlighting the importance of guiding students to deploy multimodal resources with intentionality. The study offers practical implications for integrating locally relevant social media tools into EFL writing pedagogy and underscores the need for targeted instructional support to cultivate learners’ multimodal competence.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic posed unprecedented challenges for the public health system worldwide, affecting low and middle-income countries like Bangladesh severely. In Dhaka, dense urban settlements, widespread miscommunication, and fear of the vaccine hindered the success of early vaccination. Traditional media did not reach the poor, so the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) had to make use of social media tools to promote the use of vaccines. Materials and Methods: This qualitative study spans Dhaka, Bangladesh, from January 2021 to December 2022. It analyses secondary data sources, including government reports, peer-reviewed journals, and social media. The digitally engaged urban youth, middle-class homes, and digitally excluded groups like slum dwellers and the elderly population are some of the targeted populations. Discussion: Social networking sites, primarily Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter, were instrumental in disseminating culturally appropriate, geolocated vaccine messages. The "Tika Dibo" campaign raised awareness and pushed registration via the 'Surokkha' app, particularly among digitally literate youth. However, digital marginalization, limited monitoring of disinformation, and decentralized campaign management capped the overall effect. Strategic constraints included inadequate real-time feedback loops and no tailored communication for marginalized groups. Conclusion: Social media is a promising medium for low-cost and scalable public health outreach in urban LMIC settings. However, for optimal impact, online campaigns must be complemented by inclusive access strategies, timely monitoring of data, and better institutional coordination. Bangladesh’s experience offers important lessons for integrating social media into mainstream, long-term public health planning beyond emergency response contexts. Medicine Today 2025, Vol.37 (2): 167-170

ObjectivesThis study aimed to compare the content, educational quality, and dependability of videos on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube about pulp therapy (PT) in pediatric dentistry and endodontics.MethodsThree popular video sites, Instagram (Meta Platforms, Inc.,), TikTok (ByteDance Ltd.), and YouTube (Google LLC), were searched for PT content to analyze for compliance with the American Association of Endodontists and American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry guidelines for clinical endodontists and pediatric dentists. The searched hashtags were #pulpaltherapy, #pulpaltreatment, #pulptherapy, and #pulptreatment. The classification of 158 English-language videos was based on several variables: communication quality, duration, likes and dislikes, views, source, treatment, and genre. The videos were evaluated using a usefulness score and the Global Quality Scale (GQS), Video Information and Quality Index (VIQI), Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) score, and modified DISCERN score to rate their quality and reliability. The majority of the videos were published by healthcare professionals, dental clinics, and universities.ResultsSignificant relationships existed between video length, source of upload, usefulness score, tooth type, pulp status, and VIQI, JAMA, GQS, and DISCERN scores for all three platforms (p < 0.05). A statistically significant relationship existed of YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram with the number of views, number of months since upload, view rates, comments and likes (p < 0.05).ConclusionsTikTok and Instagram reel videos provided high- to moderate-quality information about PT, especially in children, but YouTube may provide more reliable information than other social media tools.

Today, social media tools are increasingly playing a role in learning processes. Instagram, which is a visual and interactive tool in particular, stands out as one of the tools that support learning. Thus, assessing the state of Instagram studies in educational research today helps to imagine the future. Therefore, in this study, studies published on the use of Instagram in education were examined using the bibliometric analysis method. In the study, 836 academic studies published between 2015-2024 in the Web of Science (WoS) database were analyzed. The findings obtained show that research in this field has increased rapidly, especially since 2020. It has been determined that studies are focused on the use of Instagram in higher education as well as in education such as medical education and language learning. In addition, the USA stands out as the country with the most publications in articles published on the use of Instagram in education, followed by Spain and the UK. In addition to these findings, the “Cureus Journal of Medical Science” stands out as a journal in terms of the frequency of published articles, while the “University of Barcelona” stands out in terms of institutions. On the other hand, although “Li JW” stands out as the most published author among the authors who published articles on the use of Instagram in education, “Elizabeth R. Lyden” stands out as the most cited author and the author who is in a central position with extensive collaboration. The research findings were evaluated in the context of the literature and some suggestions were made.

Abstract We live in an interconnected world where technology shapes industries, and tourism is no exception. AI is transforming travel through chatbots, virtual assistants, predictive analytics, and dynamic pricing. As AI expands its role, assessing its influence on customer experience, operational efficiency, and industry sustainability is more important than ever. Most existing studies on AI in tourism primarily focus on chatbots and social media tools, analyzing their impact on shaping customer experience. However, there is little to no comprehensive literature on AI’s direct impact and level of integration within the tourism sector as a whole. To draw a parallel, extensive research exists on AI’s influence in fields such as medicine and engineering, where its applications and integration levels are well-documented. Despite AI’s growing presence in tourism, there is a significant gap in assessing how deeply it is embedded in industry operations and, more importantly, how it directly influences customer experiences beyond isolated technological functions. Through this systematic literature review, the study addresses two pivotal research questions: (1) What are the factors that influence customer experiences with AI-driven systems in tourism? and (2) What are the resulting dimensions of the overall customer experience shaped by AI? The findings suggest that perceived accuracy, reliability, and data confidentiality of AI tools are critical in shaping customer trust and adoption, while ease of use and the emotional resonance of AI interactions influence its integration into the broader touristic experience. This research aims to make a meaningful contribution to both academia and the tourism industry by offering a clear framework that illustrates AI’s evolution and impact on society and human behaviorism. Key elements taken into consideration include business operation streamlines, customer experience and growing trends, market scenarios, as well as the level of technological innovation and easiness of replicability, ethical implication (including sustainable practices).

The Use of Social Media Tools as Learning Sources for Different Ethnic Group Students

This paper explains how social media has influenced teaching and learning activities at present among Saudi university teachers and students. In spite of the use of various social media platforms for learning has quickly become a norm in the online world in most universities in African countries, there is an urgent need to investigate the impact of social media usage and user experiences on the adoption of mobile learning and technologies in Saudi higher educational institution. Therefore, this study also aims to compare its results to other similar studies that have already been published in African countries. Through a quantitative research design, a questionnaire comprising items adapted from past studies was used to gather data from respondents on their perspectives and attitudes toward social media usage to encourage collaboration and communication. The results indicated apparently that smartphones are the best possible device to enhance the use of social media in education, where all teachers and almost 97% of students own it, and almost 85% of the students have Internet access at home vs. 95% of the teachers. In regards to social media applications, teachers and students use WhatsApp as a main tool, with 67% for teachers, and almost 73% of the students. Additionally, official guidelines should be developed to control social media usage among lecturers and students. Finally, an effective plan should be in place to enhance social media use, to improve the performance of both students and lecturers.

This study explores the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and social media, particularly Meta-AI-enhanced WhatsApp, in enhancing reading comprehension among English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners. Despite the growing use of AI and social media in education, there is a notable lack of empirical research examining their combined effect on language learning. To address this gap, a systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA 2020 framework. A total of 850 studies were initially identified from databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. After applying strict inclusion and exclusion criteria, 140 studies were included in the review, with 20 selected for in-depth analysis. The findings reveal that Meta-AI-supported platforms provide personalized learning paths, adaptive feedback, and enhanced engagement, contributing significantly to the improvement of reading skills. However, challenges such as ethical concerns, reduced human interaction, and technology accessibility were also noted. This study offers valuable insights for educators and policymakers on effectively integrating AI and social media tools into EFL instruction, suggesting that technology-enhanced environments can surpass traditional methods in promoting reading comprehension and learner motivation.

Social media platforms assist and empower consumers throughout their consumer behavior journey allowing interaction, personalization and engagement. The platforms offer different tools for social media advertising with influencer marketing being one of the most popular that requires the collaboration of influencers and brands. Social media influencers are regular individuals that create and disseminate a digital narrative of their everyday lives. Increasingly, brands identify and strategically engage with influencers to enable favorable brand outcomes. Existing academic research on social media influencer research focuses mainly on western countries to explore the phenomenon. The concentration on a specific geographical context necessitates the study of social media effectiveness in different cultural contexts. By employing qualitative research in Morrocco, the present study explores influencer-follower interactions and their effect on consumers’ behavior by focusing on a specific age segment – the digital native millennials. The paper provides theoretical insights on how cultural dimensions can create differences in millennials’ perceptions and consumption behaviors by offering also managerial implications for influencers and brands, and areas for future research.