Time distortion in student YouTube use: The effects of use motivation, personality, and pattern of use on study efficiency

What is it about?

This research paper looked at the extent to which YouTube affects how efficient students are when studying. It also looked at whether it made them feel like time passes by faster or slower than it actually does. They surveyed 792 university students in Malaysia and discovered that students who use YouTube for learning don't experience time distortion, but those who utilize it for entertainment do. They also found that students who are more organized and responsible (called "conscientiousness") are better at keeping a good balance between YouTube use and studying. Finally, they found that students who only use YouTube occasionally for studying are the only ones who feel like YouTube helps them study better. Those who use it more often don't feel this way.

Featured Image

Why is it important?

Motivating students to use YouTube for learning is unlikely to reduce study efficiency. Use of diagnostic tools to understand a student's pattern of social media use, as well as motivation for use, personality and sense of time distortion, could help advisers identify reasons for low study efficiency. Digital literacy education focused on increasing self-discipline and goal-orientation could help students reduce poorly controlled use of social media for entertainment and escape, and hence improve study efficiency.

Perspectives