Research on SNS and education: The state of the art and its challenges

Abstract

This paper presents, for further discussion, a review of the scientific literature produced internationally on the use of Social Network Sites (SNS) in different levels of education and settings. A total of 62 articles published in international scientific journals with peer review have been analysed. The main objective of this paper is to discuss the most recurrent lines of research since the emergence of these tools in education. The level of education in which research is carried out is also analysed, as well as the paradigms and methods used for data collection. The analysis leads to the conclusion that most of the studies analysed have been carried out in higher education, from a quantitative paradigm, focusing on the use of SNS as educational tools. This article shows that research into SNS in education is at an early stage of development, and it demonstrates the need to widen lines of research on SNS in media education to include as yet unexplored dimensions.