Exploring the Role of Micro-Influencers in Enhancing Student Engagement through Social Media-Based Learning

Abstract

This research aims to explore the role of micro-influencers in increasing student engagement through social media-based learning. In today's digital era, social media has become the dominant platform in students' daily lives, including in the learning process. Micro-influencers, who have a relatively small number of followers but have a high level of closeness and trust from their audience, have the potential to be agents of change in building more active and meaningful learning engagement. This study uses a qualitative approach with the literature study method (library research) as the basis for data collection. Data was obtained from a variety of scientific sources, such as journals, books, and academic articles relevant to the topic of micro-influencers, social media, and student engagement in the context of higher education. The results of the study show that micro-influencers can function as effective educational communication intermediaries, create more personalized and authentic interactions with students, and be able to build collaborative learning communities. In addition, the existence of micro-influencers in social media has also been proven to be able to increase learning motivation, active participation, and students' positive perception of learning materials. Thus, the integration of the role of micro-influencers in social media-based learning strategies is a promising potential in optimizing student engagement in the digital era. This study recommends the need to develop policies and pedagogical approaches that support the use of micro-influencers in the higher education ecosystem.