Impact of Social Media on Career Choice Among Higher Education Students
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.68219/dm8gq104Keywords:
Social Media, Career Choice, Higher Education Students, Career Decision-MakingAbstract
Social media has become an influential digital space in which higher education students access career information, explore new career options, as well as how to pursue their career prospects. LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, and other digital communities bring students to different fields of work and industry trends and skills and professional role models. But as the use of social media increases, there are questions about whether the online information is credible, job prospects are unrealistic and related to social comparison and whether popularity-based articles may influence career decision-making as well. In this paper, we review the effect of social media on higher education students' career choices and how to determine them from what is available (in terms of literature and theoretical perspectives). This article looks at the impact of digital exposure on career knowledge and networking and career prospects for students, and how it is influenced by peers, influencers, and online communities on students' career plans. In addition, the paper also considers the opportunities and challenges of social media in career development from professional knowledge, skills, and employment-related information accessibility, misinformation, information overload, digital inequality, and decision uncertainty. Building on previous scholarship in career development and social learning, the paper draws a conceptual understanding of how social media can impact students’ career-related thinking and decision making. Social media influence is not only in the extent to which a platform can be used but also the relevance, credibility, and interpretation of the information that is reached. Digital literacy, career counselling, and institutional guidance are the most helpful tools to support students in making well-informed and realistic career decisions through higher education, the paper argues.
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