The Impact of Social Media on Visual Literacy of College Students: A Comprehensive Review

The increasing prevalence of social media platforms like WeChat, Douyin, and Weibo raises questions about their impact on the visual literacy of Chinese University students. Understanding how these platforms influence students’ ability to critically analyse visual information is crucial in today’s visually-driven World. Existing research on the interactions between social media and visual literacy is limited, which led to the need for a research focus. This study investigates the relationship between social media platforms and the visual literacy of Chinese university students. Specifically, this study aims to explore how these platforms affect students’ abilities to analyse visual contexts, identifying both the positive influences and challenges they pose. A comprehensive literature review was conducted to synthesise existing empirical research on the interactions between social media and visual literacy. This approach was chosen due to the relatively novel stage of research in this field, where new findings and identification can be expected. The analysis reveals a dual impact of social media on visual literacy. These social media platforms can foster creativity, digital storytelling, and exposure to diverse visual cultures. Besides, these platforms can also contribute to challenges such as visual overload, superficial engagement with content, and the potential spread of misinformation. These challenges can hinder deeper visual analysis and critical thinking. This review also found evidence that social media can promote creative expression but also contribute to cognitive overload and passive content consumption.