Social Media and Rwandan Youth Acculturation in Higher Education:Case of Students at IPRC Musanze

Abstract

This study aims at exploring how the use of social media affects youth acculturation in higher education settings. It reflects on forms of acculturation that youth in higher education experience through the exploitation of social network platforms. In light of that, the study sought to identify various social network sites used by students at higher education; investigate typology of acculturation faced by students at IPRC MUSANZE and investigate how social media affect higher education youth acculturation. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were used for data collection and analysis.  A sample size of 248 students was used. The research findings declared that from the use of social media, youth at higher education acquire new cultures, change behaviours and adopt living styles through both integration and assimilation which finally lead to acculturation. To remedy those cultural, behavioural, living styles, and linguistic emergencies that arise from the use of social network platforms, an awareness should be created in regard to the effective and efficient use of social media and prefer good values to bad behavioural aspects.

Keywords: Youth, social media/social network sites, assimilation, integration, adaptation, acculturation.

DOI: 10.7176/JCSD/66-05

Publication date:August 31^st 2021