The Impact of Social Media on Student’s Self-Concept in Technical Education Institutions

Abstract

Social media has become an integral part of students’ daily lives, functioning not only as a medium for communication and entertainment but also as a platform for self-identity development. This study aims to examine the influence of social media usage on students’ self-concept in technical education institutions, focusing on Politeknik Mersing, Johor (PMJ). Specifically, the study seeks to identify the level of social media usage and its relationship with dimensions of self-concept such as self-confidence, social competence, and perceptions of academic ability. A quantitative research design was employed, using a Likert-scale questionnaire distributed to 193 respondents from various programs and semesters. The collected data were analyzed through descriptive and inferential statistics to determine patterns and the strength of relationships between variables. The findings revealed a significant relationship between social media usage and students’ self-concept. These results highlight the dual role of social media, which can positively or negatively shape students’ personal and academic self-perceptions. The study provides valuable insights for institutions to better understand the implications of social media on students’ character development and offers a basis for designing effective interventions to foster positive self-concept among students in technical education settings.