University Students’ Ease of Accessing Information on Social Networking Sites Used in Communicating Drugs and Substance Abuse: An Assessment of Laikipia University in Kenya

Abstract

Empirical data indicate that access to reliable information can be effective in the fight against Drugs and Substance Abuse (DSA) among young populations such as undergraduate students. This can alleviate cases of insufficient communication that have been linked to the high prevalence of DSA, especially in different public universities in Kenya. Correspondingly, communication experts assert that using audience-preferred platforms is crucial for achieving desired outcomes, as it enhances access. While most universities use Social Networking Sites (SNSs) to communicate with students who prefer these platforms, research on the accessibility of information, particularly regarding DSA, is limited. Thus, this study while focusing on Laikipia University as a representative of other public universities in the country, used the tenets of the Uses and Gratifications Theory and an institution-based cross-sectional convergent mixed methods design to examine the university students' ease of accessing information posted on the various SNSs. The results showed that while students can access information through free campus Wi-Fi, many are unaware of how to search for DSA-related topics. Additionally, the lack of hyperlinks on content posted on the SNSs limits access to multiple sites. The administration's inconsistent posting and feedback further hinder students’ access to the information.