Examining Students' Awareness and Behaviors in Safeguarding Personal Information on Social Media Platforms

This study examines the awareness and behaviors of undergraduate students at Misamis University insafeguarding their personal information on social media platforms. Using a descriptive research design, thestudy surveyed 310 students across various colleges to assess their levels of awareness and behavioralpractices. Results revealed that students are generally aware of privacy and security measures, such asverifying website credibility and being cautious with privacy settings. However, gaps in awareness, such asreading terms and conditions, were identified. Behavioral practices like avoiding public Wi-Fi for sensitiveactivities and limiting information sharing were frequently observed, although certain habits, like regularpassword changes, were less common. A very strong positive correlation (r = 0.855, p < 0.01) was foundbetween students’ awareness and their behaviors, emphasizing the critical role of awareness in promotingsecure online practices. The findings highlight the need for targeted educational interventions to enhancedigital literacy and strengthen students’ protective behaviors online.