Reddit as an Academic Tool: Insights from Filipino University Students

This study explores the factors influencing Filipino university students to use Reddit for academic purposes, utilizing the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLSSEM). Reddit’s unique features, such as anonymity, community validation, inclusiveness, and diverse information resources, make it an increasingly popular platform for academic interaction. Data collected from 151 participants across various Filipino universities reveal that key factors like perceived usefulness, ease of use, and community validation significantly shape students’ attitudes, behaviors, and intentions toward using Reddit for academic purposes. The results of the study also revealed that all hypotheses were accepted including the influence of perceived information reliability and perceived community validation as additional constructs of TAM. The findings underscore Reddit’s potential to blend formal and informal learning, fostering an inclusive academic environment. This research contributes to understanding the role of social media platforms in education, particularly in non-Western contexts like the Philippines.