Status : Verified
| Personal Name | Tun, Margaret Nicole M. |
|---|---|
| Resource Title | Chat, am I making sense?: understanding the lived experiences of Filipino college students in turning to ChatGPT for social support and companionship |
| Date Issued | 15 June 2026 |
| Abstract | This thesis examines the integration of ChatGPT into the everyday lives of Gen Z users beyond academic or task-oriented purposes. While existing literature often treats users' emotional experiences as secondary outcomes, this study explores how Filipino college students use ChatGPT for social support and companionship. Guided by the Uses and Gratifications (U&G 2.0) framework alongside the media and digital connectivity perspectives of Mark Deuze and Sherry Turkle, this study utilized Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to examine the lived experiences of three purposively selected Filipino college students through semi-structured in-depth interviews. The analysis reveals that the participants actively engage with ChatGPT as a “risk-free” space to escape the vulnerabilities, judgment, and complexities of human relationships. Although the participants consciously negotiate their use alongside the risks and dangers of AI, they still experience a sense of connection when interacting with ChatGPT. Ultimately, this study redefines our understanding of support, intimacy, and vulnerability in an AI-saturated world. |
| Degree Course | Bachelor of Arts in Broadcast Media Arts and Studies |
| Language | English; Filipino |
| Keyword | ChatGPT; Uses and Gratifications (U&G); Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA); Social Support; Companionship; Filipino College Students; Human-AI Interaction |
| Material Type | Thesis/Dissertation |
Preliminary Pages
1.79 Mb
Category : F - Regular work, i.e., it has no patentable invention or creation, the author does not wish for personal publication, there is no confidential information.
Access Permission : Open Access