DATA ON UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS OF COVENANT UNIVERSITY USES OF THE SOCIAL MEDIA

This data is on what and how undergraduate students of Covenant University, Nigeria use the social media. A survey was carried out among 2,798 undergraduate students. A close ended questionnaire was the instrument for data collection. These data indicate that they mainly use the social media for personal communication, information search, entertainment, academic as well as non-academic purposes. They use the social media for private messaging, socialization and sharing of ideas with their families, friends, colleagues and lecturers. These respondents are of the opinion that the paramount benefit they have derived from using the social media is freedom of expression as the social media provide the platforms for them to do so. The respondents spend at least an hour or two every day using the social media.本数据集聚焦尼日利亚圣约大学（Covenant University）本科生使用社交媒体（social media）的行为与方式。本次调研共覆盖2798名本科生，采用封闭式问卷（close-ended questionnaire）作为数据采集工具。调研数据显示，受访学生使用社交媒体的主要用途涵盖人际沟通、信息检索、娱乐休闲、学术及非学术事务。他们会通过社交媒体开展私密讯息传递、社交互动，并与家人、朋友、同事及讲师交流分享观点。受访学生普遍认为，使用社交媒体带来的核心益处为表达自由——这类平台为他们提供了发声渠道。受访学生每日使用社交媒体的时长至少为1至2小时。