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The Role of Social Media in the Information-Seeking Behavior and Acculturation of International Students in South Korea

Oliver, Hannah R.
http://orcid.org/0009-0003-5162-7997
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1743474646685399

Abstract Details

2025, Master of Education (MEd), Bowling Green State University, Instructional Design and Technology.
International students often face challenges when adapting to new cultures, particularly in non-English-speaking countries like South Korea. These challenges are intensified by the need to navigate both English as a lingua franca and the host country’s language, making it difficult to adjust. While academic information is often available through institutional resources, a notable gap exists in assistance for social and everyday life adaptation. Access to everyday life information such as housing, banking, and healthcare plays a crucial role in international students’ acculturation, and this type of information can often be more difficult and stressful to obtain than academic information (Sin & Kim, 2018). As a result, international students frequently rely on self-directed information-seeking rather than seeking help from formal sources, impacting the overall acculturation process. This study uses a survey of 34 international students attending universities in South Korea to examine how international students use social media to find essential information and support their acculturation process. The data was then analyzed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. Findings show that international students perceive many essential information topics as difficult to find, with the top-ranked challenges being language barriers and uncertainty about where to find relevant or up-to-date information. Social media is used as both an important information resource and a platform for connecting with other foreign students. However, international students rarely use social media to connect with domestic students and instead often appear to seek out information from them in person. This preference suggests that international students may rely on existing international networks as primary information sources, reinforcing the “small world theory” (Chatman, 1996) within digital communities. Additionally, social media may serve as a passive source of information, exposing students to topics they had not originally sought. This study adds to the growing body of literature on social media as an information-seeking tool and highlights its increasing importance amongst international students. The findings have implications for universities, educators, and policymakers who can use these insights to improve access to reliable information and support inclusive academic and cultural environments.
Fei Gao, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Hajeen Choi, Ph.D. (Committee Chair)
87 p.
Cultural Anthropology; Educational Technology; Information Technology; Instructional Design
Everyday life information seeking; ELIS; acculturation; social media; international students;

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Oliver, H. R. (2025). The Role of Social Media in the Information-Seeking Behavior and Acculturation of International Students in South Korea [Master's thesis, Bowling Green State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1743474646685399

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Oliver, Hannah. The Role of Social Media in the Information-Seeking Behavior and Acculturation of International Students in South Korea. 2025. Bowling Green State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1743474646685399.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Oliver, Hannah. "The Role of Social Media in the Information-Seeking Behavior and Acculturation of International Students in South Korea." Master's thesis, Bowling Green State University, 2025. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1743474646685399

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

bgsu1743474646685399
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© 2025, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Bowling Green State University and OhioLINK.
Release 3.2.12