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Science Among Social Networks and University as Online Prescriber: Considerations from Researchers and University Students

Abstract:

The use of the internet and digital social networks has popularized, strengthening the prescriber´s online figure as a referent of opinion and knowledge. This research aims to analyze student´s interest in scientific themes on social networks and consideration of institutions as online prescribers for scientific divulgation, with aims to design strategies for the future. From a mixed approach, a documentary revision was applied. Students from seven different careers at “Universidad Técnica del Norte” were surveyed; experts from Huelva, Loja, Machala and Ibarra universities were interviewed and a dependency study between gender and preferences of topics followed by youngsters in social networks was carried out. It turned out that experts affirm that Latin American universities must deepen the knowledge of the benefits of scientific divulgation through social networks in both general and academic realms. At the same time, students would like to follow scientific topics on the internet. The most used social networks are WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube, primarily used for entertainment, studies and communication; they have a moderate and positive dependency related to online prescribers they follow. Students follow online prescribers not because they have knowledge, but because they deal with current topics.