King, Audrey E. H.Evans, Brooklyn Paige2024-07-242024-07-242024-05https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14446/344933Social media platforms exhibit the capacity to serve as a beneficial tool for Cooperative Extension Service outreach endeavors. However, Extension educators face barriers adopting these platforms, including time constraints and lack of training. This study investigated whether Oklahoma’s Extension Master Gardeners (OMGs) could support social media efforts by assessing their self-perceived social media competency. Overall, 219 OMGs completed an online survey with 28 Likert-scale questions representing four competency constructs: technical usability, content interpretation, content generation, and anticipatory reflection. Scores were relatively high across constructs, though age impacted efficacy. Significant differences emerged between age categories for technical usability, content interpretation, and content generation; 65+ year olds reported lower competence than middle aged groups, reinforcing assumptions about Digital Natives and Immigrants. Differences also existed between natives and immigrants for technical usability only, indicating generational technology exposure affects platform navigation abilities. No correlation occurred between competency and OMG tenure, inferring skills come from external social media experience versus training. Tailored programming by age alongside incorporating social media into curriculum could elevate competencies. Oklahoma Master Gardeners demonstrate potential assisting Extension’s online efforts of combatting horticulture misinformation online and guiding community members to credible Extension resources.application/pdfCopyright is held by the author who has granted the Oklahoma State University Library the non-exclusive right to share this material in its institutional repository. Contact Digital Library Services at lib-dls@okstate.edu or 405-744-9161 for the permission policy on the use, reproduction or distribution of this material.Thesis