A Research on the Use of Social Media Networks by Teacher Candidates

Abstract

Social media networks are the most important product of the development of computer and communication
technologies that affect social life. Social media networks have become a driving force in social and cultural
development, while providing social contact for people. This force has improved its sphere of influence over
societies in many fields such as health, defense, banking, commerce, marketing and entertainment, especially in
education, which sometimes have no relationship with each other. This study is a qualitative educational research
based on content analysis of teacher candidates' research on using social media networks. The study's population is
composed of 552 teacher candidates who are reached with the help of social media networks. A data collection tool
developed by the researcher in order to collect data was used in the research. A personal information section
containing information on the participants and their use of social media networks was used in the first part of the data
collection tool while a form consisting of 7 semi-structured questions was used in the second part. Data were
analyzed by using descriptive analysis and content analysis for the data obtained from data collection tool. Given the
findings of the study, it is concluded that more than half of teacher candidates participating in the research use social
media networks more than once every day; more than half of these candidates use social media networks for 2 to 4
hours a day; they mostly use mobile instant messaging tools; the most popular social media networks teacher
candidates are Instagram and Facebook; they mostly use social media networks in order to communicate with their
friends; they attribute different meanings to social media networks and they regard social media tools as a
pedagogical value.