First-Generation and Continuing College Students’ Social Media Use: Divided in the Virtual World?

Abstract

Social media plays an important role in college students’ lives. This study aims to investigate whether a divide in social media use exists between first-generation and continuing college students in China. The study collected data from a sample of 865 college students. Comparative analysis was conducted to identify differences in social media use between first-generation and continuing college students. Regression analysis was performed to quantify the effects of parental education and sociodemographic factors on social media use. There was no difference in the use of domestic social media platforms between the first-generation college students and continuing college students, while there was a significant difference in the use of international social media. In terms of different types of social media use, our research found that the first-generation college students performed fewer activities to connect with one another and engage with news content than the continuing college students, while there was no significant difference in self-expression activities.