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Journals / Yükseköğretim ve Bilim Dergisi / 2026 / Cilt: 16 Sayı: 1

Social Media Use and Online Social Capital Among University Students: An Analytical Study on Interactions and Connectivity

Üniversite Öğrencilerinde Sosyal Medya Kullanımı ve Çevrim İçi Sosyal Sermaye: Etkileşim ve Bağlantılar Üzerine Bir Analiz

Gönül Şener(MUNZUR UNIVERSITY)0000-0003-3212-7703
Pages
92–101
Publication Date
2026-04-30
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

As a result of the study, it was found that there is a positive and low-level statistically significant relationship between students’ social media use and their total online social capital scores.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

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Objective & Hypothesis:Understanding how interpersonal connections are being transformed in digital societies is crucial, and the relationship between university students’ social media use and their online social capital is of particular significance in this context.
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Key Findings & Data:The research was conducted with 401 undergraduate students enrolled at a public university in Türkiye, selected through a random sampling method.
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Conclusion & Impact:As a result of the study, it was found that there is a positive and low-level statistically significant relationship between students’ social media use and their total online social capital scores.
🔬Design:Survey & Empirical Study
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Sosyal Medya · Çevrimiçi Sosyal Sermaye · Öğrenci

Abstract

Understanding how interpersonal connections are being transformed in digital societies is crucial, and the relationship between university students’ social media use and their online social capital is of particular significance in this context. This study aims to determine the extent to which university students’ social media usage predicts their levels of online social capital. Designed within the quantitative research paradigm, the study employed a relational survey model. The research was conducted with 401 undergraduate students enrolled at a public university in Türkiye, selected through a random sampling method. Data were collected using the Social Media Use Scale and the Online Social Capital Scale. The assumptions of normality were confirmed for the scales used, and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted. T he relationship between students’ social media usage and their online social capital was examined using the Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient. In order to determine the extent to which social media usage predicts online social capital, the structural equation modeling (SEM) technique was employed. As a result of the study, it was found that there is a positive and low-level statistically significant relationship between students’ social media use and their total online social capital scores. Based on the obtained correlation values, it can be stated that as social media use increases, online social capital also tends to increase. In addition, the overall fit of the model regarding the prediction of university students’ online social capital by their social media use was found to be quite good, and the results support the contribution of social media use to online social capital. Based on these findings, it may be recommended to encourage students to participate more in academic and professional groups on social media platforms in order to support the development of their online social capital.

Özet

Üniversite öğrencilerinin sosyal medya kullanım durumu ve çevrim içi sosyal sermayeleri arasındaki ilişki, dijitalleşen toplumlarda bireyler arası bağların nasıl dönüştüğünü anlamak açısından önem arz etmektedir. Bu araştırmada, üniversite öğrencilerinin sosyal medya kullanım düzeylerinin çevrimiçi sosyal sermayelerini yordama düzeylerinin belirlenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Çalışma, nicel araştırma yaklaşımı çerçevesinde hazırlanmış olup, araştırmada ilişkisel tarama modeli kullanılmıştır. Araştırma, Türkiye’de bir devlet üniversitesinde eğitimine devam eden ve basit rastgele örnekleme yöntemiyle belirlenen 401 lisans öğrencisi ile yürütülmüştür. Araştırma verileri Sosyal Medya Kullanım Ölçeği ve Çevrimiçi Sosyal Sermaye Ölçeği ile toplanmıştır. Kullanılan ölçeklerin normallik varsayımları doğrulanmış, doğrulayıcı faktör analizleri yapılmıştır. Öğrencilerin sosyal medya kullanım durumları ile çevrimiçi sosyal sermayeleri arasındaki ilişki Pearson momentler çarpımı korelasyon katsayısı kullanılarak hesaplanmış, sosyal medya kullanım durumlarının çevrimiçi sosyal sermayelerini ne ölçüde yordadığını saptamak amacıyla toplam puanlar üzerinden yapısal eşitlik modellemesi tekniğine başvurulmuştur. Araştırma sonucunda; öğrencilerin sosyal medya kullanımı ve çevrimiçi sosyal sermaye toplam puanları arasında pozitif ve düşük düzeyli istatistiksel olarak anlamlı ilişki olduğu görülmektedir. Elde edilen korelasyon değerlerine göre sosyal medya kullanımı arttıkça çevrimiçi sosyal sermayenin de artma eğiliminde olduğu söylenebilir. Ayrıca üniversite öğrencilerinin sosyal medya kullanma durumlarının çevrimiçi sosyal sermayelerini yordamasına ilişkin modelin genel uyumu oldukça iyi olduğu ve elde edilen sonuçların sosyal medya kullanımının çevrimiçi sosyal sermayeye olan katkısını destekler nitelikte olduğu görülmüştür. Bu sonuçlara dayalı olarak öğrencilerin sosyal medya platformlarında daha fazla akademik ve mesleki gruplara katılmalarının teşviki sağlanarak, çevrimiçi sosyal sermayelerini geliştirme süreçlerinin desteklenmesi önerilebilir.

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Cite This Article

Şener, G. (2026). Social Media Use and Online Social Capital Among University Students: An Analytical Study on Interactions and Connectivity. Yükseköğretim ve Bilim Dergisi, Cilt: 16 Sayı: 1, 92–101. https://doi.org/10.5961/higheredusci.1763427

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