Students in the Digital Shift

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly transformed the way students interact, learn, and access information, leading to a notable shift in the awareness and usage of social media platforms. This study examines the level of awareness and patterns of social media usage among students before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The research focuses on identifying changes in platform preference, frequency of use, purpose of engagement, and perceived impact on academic and social life. Data were collected from students using a structured questionnaire, and comparative analysis was conducted to highlight variations across the two periods. The findings reveal a substantial increase in awareness and usage of social media platforms after COVID-19, with a marked rise in the use of platforms for online learning, academic collaboration, and information sharing, alongside entertainment and social interaction. The results underscore the growing importance of social media in students' daily lives and highlight the need for responsible usage and digital literacy initiatives in the post-pandemic era.