Social Media Practices among HUMSS Students in a Private School in Cabuyao City

This study evaluates the social media practices of HUMSS students from a private school
in Cabuyao City through examinations of fact-checking and personal data protection and digital
footprint awareness. Students face challenges in information management and privacy protection
and online identity maintenance because social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram and
TikTok have gained widespread popularity. The research bases its framework on Levine’s Truth
Default Theory and Westin’s Privacy Theory and Meckin’s Digital Footprint Management Theory.
The research design uses quantitative methods while collecting data through a structured survey
instrument. The assessment of students' knowledge and practices uses descriptive statistics to
analyze data that compares results based on student age, gender and socio-economic status. The
research findings demonstrate that students demonstrate average knowledge about fact-checking
and privacy controls yet they struggle with proper information analysis and digital footprint
management. The study demonstrates that schools should teach digital literacy as a curriculum
subject to enhance students' responsible social media use abilities. The research contributes to digital
citizenship discussions while providing educational and policy recommendations for meeting
student digital literacy needs in the twenty-first century.