Social network use among university students from the Faculty of Education (University of Extremadura)

Social networks have come to be considered essential in all areas of life. In the educational field, they make the teaching-learning process break with traditionalist standards, promoting the effectiveness and quality of education. The present study aims to explore which networks are most used by university students and for what educational purposes. For this, a quantitative method has been used, the instrument for collecting information being a questionnaire designed "ad hoc". The sample is made up of a total of 76 students from the Faculty of Education in Badajoz. The results indicate that social networks are rapidly expanding within university classrooms and that WhatsApp is used the most, followed by Instagram. Students use these networks in an educational way to share information and/or documents, support each other, give their opinion, and participate in groups (mainly without a teacher). In conclusion, it should be noted that social networks are a resource among university students and their use in classrooms can be a very appropriate resource given younger generations' daily use of them.