Positive and negative factors of the influence of new media and the digital environment on ideal and belief education among university students in China

Abstract

The authors identity the relationship between the positive and negative aspects of social media and the ideal belief learning and behavior of university students. The cluster sampling method was adopted in the paper, including Guangdong, Shandong, Henan, Sichuan, and Jiangsu provinces. A total of 1014 questionnaires were distributed to a purposive sample of university students between the ages of 16 and 35. The authors applied the uses and gratifications theory to study students’ social media behavior. This study identified 18 positive and negative effects of social media. Noteworthy positive outcomes attributed to social media in fostering ideals and beliefs encompass heightened awareness, enhanced communication facilitation, convenient connectivity, reduced expenses on educational materials, improved social and communication proficiencies, as well as diminished stress levels. The negative effects of new media and the Internet include a lack of critical thinking, a waste of time, dysgraphia, disrupted connection to learning, students’ laziness, and health risks.

Keywords:

• Digital environment
• Internet
• learning
• new media
• social media

Disclosure statement

The authors report there are no competing interests to declare.

Data availability statement

All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article.

Additional information

Funding

The study was supported by Ministry of Education, Humanities and social science research projects, and Education Scientific Planning Projects of Guangdong Province (2021JKDY004).

Notes on contributors

Dandan Xu

Dandan Xu has a PhD degree. Dandan Xu is a Lecturer of the School of Stomatology at the Jinan University, Guangzhou, China. Research interests: digital environment, new media, and higher education.

Shiqi Feng

Shiqi Feng has a Master’s degree. Shiqi Feng is a Lecturer of the School of Shipping Economics and Trade at the Guangzhou Maritime University, Guangzhou, China. Research interests: social media, economics.

Zijin Huang

Zijin Huang has a Master’s degree. Zijin Huang is an Assistant of the School of Stomatology at the Jinan University, Guangzhou, China. Research interests: new media, social media.