Sociocultural adjustment of Gen Z international students and social media usage

Abstract

As student mobility prevails, an increasing number of students pursue higher education opportunities abroad. Although there is a rising population of international students in the U.S., there is a shortage of empirical research assessing their successes and challenges, leading to continuous barriers. Additionally, research focusing specifically on Hawai‘i is limited, despite the fact that Hawai‘i has a significant number of international students. This study explored the ways in which international students in Hawai‘i adapt to the host culture, including their use of social media. The findings revealed that students employed both convergence and divergence code-switching strategies to adjust to their new environment while maintaining cultural identity. Social media served as a crucial tool for adaptation, facilitating social connections, networking, and event exploration. Even though FoMo was seen to hinder their adaptation, JoMo was also identified. Moreover, AI tools became essential to academic success, highlighting the need for AI-assisted systems for universities. This study highlighted the importance of Hawai‘i’s multicultural inclusivity in easing student adjustment to preserve its welcoming atmosphere for international education.