Determining the social media platforms used and the real-time exposure of college students to SMFPs at Uganda College of Commerce. A cross-sectional study.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51168/sjhrafrica.v7i3.2287Keywords:
Social media platforms, real-time exposure, College students, Uganda College of CommerceAbstract
Background:
Social media has grown into one of the most influential aspects of modern life. The aim of the study is to determine the social media platforms used and the real-time exposure of college students to Social Media Food Promotion platforms.
Methodology:
A cross-sectional research design was employed. A probability sampling design was employed using the simple random sampling technique. The study focused on 94 students pursuing various courses at Uganda College of Commerce, Soroti Campus. The data were processed and analyzed using Microsoft Excel and SPSS, and the results were presented in the form of tables, graphs, and charts.
Results:
(91.9%) indicated that they utilized mobile phones as their exclusive device for engaging with social media platforms, 85.1% of participants engaged with social media at least once within a day, with 87.8% utilizing it in various locations. (60.8%) reported dedicating between 2 and 3 hours daily to social media activities. (54.1%) acknowledged that social media exerted both positive and negative influences on their lives. 74.3% of respondents reported possessing 1-3 years of experience with social media platforms, (66.2%) reported actively following social media accounts or pages, with a nearly equivalent proportion (68.9%) of respondents indicating that they followed social media influencers. 68.9% of participants reported following social media influencers specifically for food or health-related content. 58.9% were identified as male and 41.1% as female.
Conclusion:
College students studying at Uganda College of Commerce, Soroti City, have their dietary choices influenced by social media. There is no significant difference between genders, and exposure to food-related information on social media sites can both positively and negatively affect dietary decisions.
Recommendations:
Parents should encourage thoughtful consumption of social media, while monitoring usage, to mitigate the impact of misleading or unhealthy content.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Martin Ongodia, Elizabeth Okello, Jane Frank Nalubega, Hasifa Naserekeo, Immaculate Prosperia Nagulu
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