Purpose of using social media before and during COVID-19 by students

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of social media was steadily growing and had already become a key aspect of everyday life for individuals across all age groups. Platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat were widely used for staying in touch, sharing content, and staying informed. At the same time, businesses and organizations had begun to fully embrace social media as a valuable tool for marketing and engaging with their audiences. This period marked a slow but steady move toward greater online interaction and digital connectivity, effectively laying the groundwork for the crucial role social media would play during the pandemic and in the years that followed. This study was planned to investigate the purpose of use of the social media before and during the COVID-19 pandemic by students. Data was analyzed by applying z-test and it was found that there was a significant shift in usage pattern before and during pandemic. This study also enlightens the complexity of factors influencing the purpose of using social media before pre pandemic landscape of digital engagement.