Social Media Use, Digital Literacy, and Attentional Control of Self-Regulation as Predictors of Perceived Learning

Authors

  • Emre Can Cırık
  • Ahmet Murat uzun Afyon Kocatepe University image/svg+xml

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46328/ijte.5528

Keywords:

Perceived learning, Social media behaviors, Digital literacy, Attentional control

Abstract

The extensive use of social media among young learners has opened up new opportunities for collaboration, information sharing, and informal learning. However, its impact on perceived learning largely depends on students’ ability to regulate their attentional behaviors and effectively navigate digital environments. This study explores the influence of university students’ in-school and out-of-school social media utilization behaviors on the perceived learning, after controlling for the effect of digital literacy, and the attention control dimension of self-regulation skills. To this end, data were collected from 847 undergraduate and associate degree students at a public university in Northern Türkiye. The findings of a two-step hierarchical regression analysis indicated that the attention control dimension of self-regulation and digital literacy variables emerged as significant predictors of perceived learning and after controlling for the effect of these variables it was demonstrated that out-of-school social media behaviors were found to have a negative impact on perceived learning, whilst in-school social media behaviors are positively associated with it. The study yielded recommendations for researchers and educators based on the results.

References

Abu Backer, H. G., & Awad, I. (2025). The extensive use of social media by Arab university students (gratifications, impact, and risks). Entertainment Computing, 53, 100926. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.entcom.2025.100926

Agbo, F. J., Olawumi, O., Oyelere, S. S., Kolog, E. A., Olaleye, S. A., Agjei, R. O., Ukpabi, D. C., Yunusa, A. A., Gbadegeshin, S. A., Awoniyi, L., Erinle, K. O., Mogaji, E., Silas, A. D., Nwachukwu, C. E., & Olawuni, A. (2020). Social media usage for computing education: The effect of tie strength and group communication on perceived learning outcome. The International Journal of Education and Development Using Information and Communication Technology, 16(1), 5–26.

Alshalawi, A. S. (2022). The influence of social media networks on learning performance and students’ perceptions of their use in education: A literature review. Contemporary Educational Technology, 14(4), ep378. https://doi.org/10.30935/cedtech/12164

Alt, D. (2017). College students’ perceived learning environment and their social media engagement in activities unrelated to class work. Instructional Science, 45(5), 623–643. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11251-017-9418-0

Andersen, A. I. O., Finserås, T. R., Hjetland, G. J., Bøe, T., Sivertsen, B., Colman, I., Hella, R. T., & Skogen, J. C. (2024). Can social media use be more health-promoting? Description and pilot evaluation of a school-based program to increase awareness and reflection on the use of social media. SAGE Open, 14(2). https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440241249538

Anthonysamy, L., Koo, A. C., & Hew, S. H. (2020). Self-regulated learning strategies in higher education: Fostering digital literacy for sustainable lifelong learning. Education and Information Technologies, 25, 2393–2414. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-020-10201-8

Arslantas, T. K., Yaylacı, M. E., & Özkaya, M. (2024). Association between digital literacy, internet addiction, and cyberloafing among higher education students: A structural equation modeling. E-Learning and Digital Media, 21(4), 310–328. https://doi.org/10.1177/20427530231156180

Baz, F. Ç. (2022). Social media behaviors of university students in and out of school: A field study. European Journal of Science and Technology, 33, 126–132.

Biedermann, D., Kister, S., Breitwieser, J., Weidlich, J., & Drachsler, H. (2024). Use of digital self-control tools in higher education – a survey study. Education and Information Technologies, 29(8), 9645–9666. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-023-12198-2

Blau, I., Shamir-Inbal, T., & Avdiel, O. (2020). How does the pedagogical design of a technology-enhanced collaborative academic course promote digital literacies, self-regulation, and perceived learning of students? The Internet and Higher Education, 45, Article 100722. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iheduc.2019.100722

Bozkurt, A. (2020). Evaluations on education in the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic process and post-pandemic world: New normal and new education paradigm. Journal of Open Education Applications and Research (AUAd), 6(1), 112–142.

Caspi, A., & Blau, I. (2008). Social presence in online discussion groups: Testing three conceptions and their relations to perceived learning. Social Psychology of Education, 11, 323–346. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11218-008-9054-2

Chen, F. (2025). The relationship between digital literacy and college students’ academic achievement: The chain mediating role of learning adaptation and online self-regulated learning. Frontiers in Psychology, 16. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1590649

Chou, S. W., Hsieh, M. C., & Pan, H. C. (2024). Understanding the impact of self-regulation on perceived learning outcomes based on social cognitive theory. Behavior & Information Technology, 43, 1129–1148. https://doi.org/10.1080/0144929X.2024.2348598

Creswell, J. W. (2015). Educational research: Planning, conducting, and evaluating quantitative and qualitative research. Pearson.

Demiraslan-Çevik, Y., Haşlaman, T., Kuşkaya Mumcu, F., & Gökçearslan, Ş. (2015). Attentional control dimension of self-regulation: A scale adaptation study. Başkent University Journal of Education, 2, 229–238.

Diehl, M., Semegon, A. B., & Schwarzer, R. (2006). Assessing attention control in goal pursuit: A component of dispositional self-regulation. Journal of Personality Assessment, 86(3), 306–317. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327752jpa8603_06

Dikbaş Torun, E. (2019). Development of the Turkish form of social media behavior scales: Validity and reliability study. Mediterranean Journal of Communication, 32, 217–234.

Eshet-Alkali, Y., & Amichai-Hamburger, Y. (2004). Experiments in digital literacy. Cyberpsychology & Behavior, 7(4), 421–429. https://doi.org/10.1089/cpb.2004.7.421

ETS. (2007). ICT Literacy Panel. https://www.ets.org/Media/Research/pdf/ICTREPORT.pdf

Gaudreau, P., Miranda, D., & Gareau, A. (2014). Canadian university students in wireless classrooms: What do they do on their laptops and does it really matter? Computers & Education, 70, 245–255. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2013.08.019

Gökçearslan, Ş., Kuşkaya Mumcu, F., Haşlaman, T., & Demiraslan Çevik, Y. (2016). Modeling smartphone addiction: The role of smartphone usage, self-regulation, general self-efficacy and cyberloafing in university. Computers in Human Behavior, 63, 639–649. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2016.05.091

Heiss, R., Nanz, A., & Matthes, J. (2023). Social media information literacy: Conceptualization and associations with information overload, news avoidance and conspiracy mentality. Computers in Human Behavior, 148, 107908. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2023.107908

Holm, P. (2025). Impact of digital literacy on academic achievement: Evidence from an online anatomy and physiology course. *E-Learning and Digital Media, 22*(2), 139–155. https://doi.org/10.1177/20427530241232489

Horzum, M. B., Demir Kaymak, Z., & Canan Güngören, Ö. (2015). Structural equation modeling towards online learning readiness, academic motivations, and perceived learning. Educational Sciences: Theory & Practice, 15(3), 759–770.

Jeong, J.-H., & Bae, S.-M. (2022). The relationship between types of smartphone use, digital literacy, and smartphone addiction in the elderly. Psychiatry Investigation, 19(10), 832–839. https://doi.org/10.30773/pi.2021.0400

Kara, S. (2021). Examination of the relationship between digital literacy levels of prospective teachers and their strategies of searching and interpreting information on the web [Master’s thesis, Necmettin Erbakan University].

Karayigit, C., Groter, A., & Thompson, M. (2021). Addictive use of social media and motivations for social media use among emerging adult university students. Bağımlılık Dergisi, 22(3), 266–274. https://doi.org/10.51982/bagimli.897708

Karpinski, A. C., Kirschner, P. A., Ozer, I., Mellott, J. A., & Ochwo, P. (2013). An exploration of social networking site use, multitasking, and academic performance among United States and European university students. Computers in Human Behavior, 29(3), 1182–1192. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2012.10.011

Khan, M. L., Wohn, D. Y., & Ellison, N. B. (2014). Actual friends matter: An internet skills perspective on teens’ informal academic collaboration on Facebook. Computers & Education, 79, 138–147. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2014.08.001

Kirschner, P. A., & Karpinski, A. C. (2010). Facebook® and academic performance. Computers in Human Behavior, 26(6), 1237–1245. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2010.03.024

Koçyiğit, N., Kocaoğlu, M., & Yıldız, E. (2024). Social media use and digital literacy: The example of February 6 earthquakes-themed Twitter posts. Pamukkale University Journal of Institute of Social Sciences, 62, 227–238.

Langarizadeh, M., Naghipour, M., Tabatabaei, S. M., Mirzaei, A., & Vaghar, M. E. (2018). Prediction of internet addiction based on information literacy among students of Iran University of Medical Sciences. Electronic Physician, 10(2), 6333–6340. https://doi.org/10.19082/6333

Lau, W. W. F. (2017). Effects of social media usage and social media multitasking on the academic performance of university students. Computers in Human Behavior, 68, 286–291. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2016.11.043

Lei, H., Xiong, Y., Chiu, M. M., Zhang, J., & Cai, Z. (2021). The relationship between ICT literacy and academic achievement among students: A meta-analysis. Children and Youth Services Review, 127, 106123. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2021.106123

Leung, L., & Lee, P. S. N. (2012). Impact of Internet Literacy, Internet Addiction Symptoms, and Internet Activities on Academic Performance. Social Science Computer Review, 30(4), 403–418. https://doi.org/10.1177/0894439311435217

Luszczynska, A., Diehl, M., Gutiérrez-Dona, B., Kuusinen, P., & Schwarzer, R. (2004). Measuring one component of dispositional self-regulation: Attention control in goal pursuit. Personality and Individual Differences, 37(3), 555–566. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2003.09.026

Matzat, U., & Vrieling, E. M. (2016). Self-regulated learning and social media – a ‘natural alliance’? Evidence on students’ self-regulation of learning, social media use, and student–teacher relationship. Learning, Media and Technology, 41(1), 73–99. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439884.2015.1064953

Navarro, R., Vega, V., Bayona, H., Bernal, V., & Garcia, A. (2023). Relationship between technology acceptance model, self-regulation strategies, and academic self-efficacy with academic performance and perceived learning among college students during remote education. Frontiers in Psychology, 14. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1281699

Pala, Ş. M., & Başıbüyük, A. (2020). Examining the digital literacy levels of middle school fifth grade students. Cumhuriyet International Journal of Education, 9(3), 897–921.

Pala, Ş. M., & Başıbüyük, A. (2023). The predictive effect of digital literacy, self-control and motivation on the academic achievement in the science, technology and society learning area. Technology, Knowledge and Learning, 28(1), 369–385. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10758-021-09538-x

Pamuk, Z. (2024). Examining the relationship between digital literacy levels of university students and social media addiction [Master’s thesis, Aksaray University].

Radio and Television Supreme Council. (2022). Youth media use and digital literacy research. https://www.rtuk.gov.tr/Media/FM/Kamuoyu/genclerin_medya_kullanimi_ve_dijital_okuryazarlik_arastirmasi_.pdf

Rueda, M. R., Posner, M. I., & Rothbart, M. K. (2004). Attentional control and self-regulation. In R. F. Baumeister & K. D. Vohs (Eds.), Handbook of self-regulation: Research, theory, and applications (pp. 283–300). Guilford Press.

Sánchez-Fernández, M., Borda-Mas, M., Rivera, F., & Griffiths, M. D. (2024). Problematic online behaviours among university students and associations with psychological distress symptoms and emotional role limitations: A network analysis approach. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-024-01296-y

Sarsar, F., Başbay, M., & Başbay, A. (2015). Öğrenme-öğretme sürecinde sosyal medya kullanımı [The use of social media in the teaching-learning process]. Mersin Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi, 11(2), 418–431. https://doi.org/10.17860/efd.98783

Shopova, T. (2014). Digital literacy of students and its improvement at the university. Journal on Efficiency and Responsibility in Education and Science, 7(2), 26–32. https://doi.org/10.7160/eriesj.2014.070201

Terry, C. A., Mishra, P., & Roseth, C. J. (2016). Preference for multitasking, technological dependency, student metacognition, & pervasive technology use: An experimental intervention. Computers in Human Behavior, 65, 241–251. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2016.08.009

Tess, P. A. (2013). The role of social media in higher education classes (real and virtual) -A literature review. Computers in Human Behavior, 29(5), A60–A68. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2012.12.032

Tugrul, T. O. (2017). Perceived learning effectiveness of a course Facebook page: Teacher-led versus student-led approach. World Journal on Educational Technology: Current Issues, 9(1), 35–39. https://doi.org/10.18844/wjet.v9i1.1029

Uzun, A. M., & Kilis, S. (2019). Does persistent involvement in media and technology lead to lower academic performance? Evaluating media and technology use in relation to multitasking, self-regulation and academic performance. Computers in Human Behavior, 90, 196–203. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2018.08.045

Uzun, A. M., Ünal, E., & Erdem, C. (2024). Behavioral, normative, and control determinants of in-class off-task multitasking and its association with perceived learning. Education and Information Technologies. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-024-13157-1

Üstündağ, M. T., Güneş, E., & Bahçivan, E. (2017). Turkish adaptation of digital literacy scale and investigating pre-service science teachers’ digital literacy. Journal of Education and Future, 12, 19–29.

We Are Social. (2025). Digital 2025: The essential guide to the global state of digital. https://wearesocial.com/us/blog/2025/02/digital-2025-the-essential-guide-to-the-global-state-of-digital/

Zimmerman, B. J. (2002). Becoming a self-regulated learner: An overview. Theory into Practice, 41(2), 64–70. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15430421tip4102_2

Downloads

Published

2026-03-01

Issue

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Social Media Use, Digital Literacy, and Attentional Control of Self-Regulation as Predictors of Perceived Learning . (2026). International Journal of Technology in Education, 9(2), 557-571. https://doi.org/10.46328/ijte.5528