Facebook and Higher Education: Perceptions of Students and Teachers about the Academic Uses of the Social Network at a Higher Education Institution in Angola

Abstract

This article analyzes the perceptions of students and teachers regarding the use of Facebook in higher education, taking ISCED-Luanda, Angola, as a reference. The study aimed to understand how participants perceive the potentialities and limitations of Facebook in the teaching-learning process. Methodologically, this is a qualitative, descriptive, and exploratory research developed through semi-structured interviews conducted with ten students and three teachers from the institution. The data were analyzed using content analysis. The findings indicate that Facebook is perceived simultaneously as a communication tool, a space for sharing academic content, collaborative learning, and extending pedagogical interactions beyond the classroom. However, participants also highlighted limitations related to distraction, time wasting, excessive use of the platform, and the circulation of false information.