I. INTRODUCTION
Online social networks (OSNs) are communication
platforms available in the Internet that enable individuals to
join, create or build networks of like-minded users [1] OSNs
have become a global phenomenon. Facebook, MySpace,
Linkedin, Tagged, Classmates, Hi5, Friendster, and Multiply
are popular social networking sites in the Philippines [2]. In
2008, there were thirty two categories of OSNs and
communities for varied interest groups, totaling 227 sites [3]
In the Philippines, the Internet is the fourth major source of
information [4], but for the Filipino youth it could be second
to television.
In education, information communication technology
(ICT) has gone through four waves of critical history. ICT in
education has failed in these critical events but still offers
new opportunities in the emergence of social networks [5].
Veritably, there are advantages and downsides to the
integration of ICT in education. OSNs ever expand in
potential because of the innovations in their content
applications. With emerging technologies that students are
accustomed to, teachers managing instructional transactions
are challenged to adapt to the changing environment. In the
decision-making, using OSNs comes as an alternative
instructional media that has yet to be examined.
The issue with OSN is not in its power to engage users,
but in how its potential can be utilized strategically to
achieve certain goals. Educational philosophy informs that
instructors should be able to define the state of competence
from which instruction will take a learner through
experiences that are not remote to them [6]. Online social
networking is not a remote experience for millennial
students. Optimizing OSN or making it useful for instruction
is a critical decision that has to consider how users construct
such technology, what they use it for and with what
functionally available tools.