University Students’ Evaluations of Social Media and Artificial Intelligence Use: The Case of Hitit University

Öz

The aim of this study is to examine the levels and purposes of social media (SM) and artificial intelligence (AI) use among undergraduate students at Hitit University, as well as their evaluations of these technologies, and to determine how these usage patterns differ across grade level, gender, and faculty. Understanding the extent to which university students use these technologies and for what purposes in an era of rapid digitalization is essential for both educational processes and the development of digital competencies. The sample of the research consists of 516 undergraduate students from various faculties and grade levels. Data were collected through a questionnaire and analyzed using the SPSS software package. Frequency and percentage distributions derived from categorical data were examined, and the results were comparatively presented in cross-tabulations based on grade level, gender, and faculty variables. The findings indicate that students primarily use Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, and X. Daily SM usage is largely concentrated within the 2-5 hour range. Among AI tools, ChatGPT is by far the most frequently used application, and students report using AI mainly for preparing assignments, followed by coding–software tasks, project development, and question–answer purposes. Gender-based comparisons reveal that while both groups consider AI useful, male students tend to evaluate AI tools as more functional. Overall, the study demonstrates that university students actively use SM and AI technologies in both their academic and social lives and offers recommendations for enhancing digital competencies within higher education.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Social Media
• Artificial Intelligence
• University Students
• Digital Competencies
• Technology Use

Üniversite Öğrencilerinin Sosyal Medya ve Yapay Zekâ Kullanımına İlişkin Değerlendirmeleri: Hitit Üniversitesi Örneği

Öz

Bu çalışmanın amacı, Hitit Üniversitesinde öğrenim gören üniversite öğrencilerinin sosyal medya (SM) ve yapay zekâ (YZ) kullanım düzeylerini, kullanım amaçlarını ve bu teknolojilere yönelik değerlendirmelerini ortaya koymak; ayrıca bu kullanım biçimlerinin sınıf düzeyi, cinsiyet ve fakülte değişkenlerine göre nasıl farklılaştığını belirlemektir. Dijitalleşmenin hızla arttığı günümüzde üniversite öğrencilerinin bu teknolojileri hangi amaçlarla ve ne düzeyde kullandıklarının anlaşılması hem eğitim süreçleri hem de dijital becerilerin geliştirilmesi açısından önem taşımaktadır. Araştırmanın örneklemini farklı fakülte ve sınıf düzeylerinde öğrenim gören 516 lisans öğrencisi oluşturmaktadır. Veriler anket yöntemiyle toplanmış ve SPSS paket programı kullanılarak analizler yapılmıştır. Sınıflama ölçeği ile elde edilen verilerle yapılan analizlerde frekans ve yüzde dağılımları incelenmiştir. Bu dağılımlardan elde edilen sonuçlar sınıf düzeyi, cinsiyet ve fakülte değişkenlerine göre çapraz tablolarda karşılaştırmalı olarak gösterilmiştir. Bulgular, öğrencilerin en çok Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube ve X platformlarını kullandığını göstermektedir. Günlük SM kullanım süresi büyük ölçüde 2-5 saat aralığında yoğunlaşmaktadır. YZ araçları içinde açık ara en fazla kullanılan uygulama ChatGPT’dir ve öğrenciler YZ’yi en çok ödev hazırlama amacıyla kullandıklarını belirtmişlerdir. Bunu kodlama-yazılım, proje geliştirme ve soru-cevap amaçlı kullanım izlemektedir. Cinsiyete göre yapılan karşılaştırmalarda her iki grubun da YZ’yi faydalı bulduğu; ancak erkek öğrencilerin YZ araçlarını daha işlevsel değerlendirdiği görülmektedir. Sonuç olarak çalışma, üniversite öğrencilerinin SM ve YZ teknolojilerini hem akademik hem sosyal yaşamlarında aktif biçimde kullandıklarını ortaya koymakta ve yükseköğretimde dijital becerilerin güçlendirilmesine yönelik öneriler sunmaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Dijital Beceriler
• Sosyal Medya
• Teknoloji Kullanımı
• Üniversite Öğrencileri
• Yapay Zekâ

Kaynakça

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