AN EXAMINATION OF SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES USAGE AMONG THE STUDENTS IN THE MALAYSIAN UNIVERSITIES

This paper investigates the factors for, manner in which and purposes of students using Social
Networking Sites (SNSs). The paper also examines the most popular SNSs currently visited. The study
surveyed 265 students from four public and private universities respectively in Malaysia. The findings
indicate that 97% of students have SNSs accounts. Facebook was the most popular site with 97%
penetration rate. SNSs members participated in this study reported that (i) they had been on SNSs for at
least one year, (ii) logging in their accounts several times a day and (iii) having 100 to 300 friends on
SNSs. The surveyed students who did not have SNSs accounts responded that they had not used the SNSs
due to the lack of time. The study also found that socializing and information searching topped the
purposes of SNSs usage compared to that of for educational reason.