IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE: A FOCUS ON THE FACULTY OF HUMANITY, FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OTUOKE

This research study aims to investigate the impact of social media on students' academic performance, with a specific focus on the Faculty of Humanity at Federal University Otuoke. The study will examine how social media usage patterns, such as frequency of use, type of platforms used, and time spent on social media, influence students' academic outcomes, including grades, study habits, and overall academic success.  The research will utilize a mixed-methods approach, incorporating both quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews to gather data from students within the Faculty of Humanity. The surveys will assess students' social media habits and academic performance, while the interviews will provide deeper insights into how social media affects their learning experiences and academic achievements.  The findings of this study will contribute to the existing literature on the impact of social media on students' academic performance, providing insights specific to the Faculty of Humanity at Federal University Otuoke. The results will also inform educational stakeholders, including faculty members, administrators, and policymakers, on how to support students in managing their social media use to optimize their academic success. Ultimately, this research aims to enhance understanding of the relationship between social media and academic performance, and to identify strategies for promoting positive academic outcomes in the digital age.

1.1 Background to the Study

1.2 Statement of the Problem

1.3 Objectives of the Study

1.4 Research Questions

1.5 Definition of Terms

1.6 Scope of the Study

1.7 Significance of the Study

 2.1 History of Social Media in Nigeria

2.2 Conceptual Framework 

2.2.1 The Concept of Social Media

2.3 Students and the Social Media

2.4 Social Media Objectives

2.5 Effect of Social Media on Students’ Academic Performance

2.6 Theoretical Framework 

2.7 Summary of Literature Review: 

3.1 Research Methodology 

3.2 Research Design 

3.3 Area of the Study

3.4 Population of the Study

3.5 Sampling Technique

3.6 Instrument for Data Collection 

3.7 Validity of Instrument 

3.8 Method of Data Collection 

3.9 Method of Data Analysis 

4.1 Data Analysis and Results

4.2 Data Presentation

4.3 Data Analysis and Interpretation

4.4 Discussion of Findings

5.1 Summary of Findings 

5.2 Conclusion 

5.3 Recommendations 

Modern Technology in communication has paved the way for multifunctional devices such as; the smart phone and the smart watch. Therefore, making our lives easier, faster and more fun. It helps keep individuals informed, enlightened and abreast with world developments. Over the years, technology has revolutionized our world and daily lives and has created amazing tools and resources, putting useful information at our fingertips. 

The world’s first commercial space communication company was created in 1962 by the United state congress and it was called Communication satellite corporation (COMSAT). In 1964, the United state government and eleven foreign nations signed a space communication pact. The partnership was known as “International Telecommunications Satellite Organization (INTELSAT)”.

The internet is a vital part of the social media. It is known as the “world information super highway”. In view of Paul, (2010), the internet is a massive “network of networks”, it is a networking infrastructure which connects millions of computers together globally, forming a network in which any computer can communicate with each other, as long as they are both connected to the internet.

In 1995, the internet was just one networking system among many others such as Mintel, Usenet, Fido but with advent of the web, internet became by far the most important networking system. Where in our today’s society, the younger a person, the greater the likelihood he or she has access to the internet. Early 1990’s, chat rooms and bulletin boards were forms of social networking in a way, they help people to connect with others and share interest. Overtime, we had dating sites where individuals looked for partners and other sites were people are able to connect with people they had known in high school and colleges and enable them meet others. In the early 1920s, a site called “Friendster” originated, where people invited their friends and their friends also invited others. It was for a while a very popular site, until it suffered from technical difficulties and fake profiles and then began to loose members. 

In 1999, my space took over but became popularly known in 2003 but it’s root are a bit muddy because it received its financial and logistical support from another company called the “E-universe” .Then Facebook rose as a competitor to MySpace in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg while he was a student at Harvard. At first Facebook was solely for college and high school students but mark opened it to everyone and like My Space, it encourages all types of member postings. There are also smaller social networks like 2go, YouTube and Blackberry chat for people to access (Retrieved from encyclopedeia.com)

Instagram is currently one of the most used social media platforms because it is a mix of personal and commercial. It was created by Kevin Systrom and Mike Kneger but it has a very different focus than Facebook, which was built around real-world social structures. Where a well run Instagram account or profile can perform better than a website can for engagements with your audience. It is recorded as the third largest social network in the world, behind Facebook and YouTube.

Social media is all about communication and different social media operates different with the different characteristic features. Research and views in the past have been that social media networking was a means of distraction and time wasting for school going people and students. Not only this, vices such as cyber bullying we are reported to have been acquired. Contrary to these views ,recent research have shown that 69% of social media using teenagers and 85% adults said people are mostly altruist. In Nigeria as well the wrong notion about the use of social media was the same. Social media is also gaining interest among all users. Sofela, (2012) reported that the popularity of social media has grown rapidly. The social networking sites such as Facebook, MySpace, 2go and blackberry chat Allows social interaction among students.

In earlier times, the students we are making use of social media for academic purposes and schoolwork, connecting with old friends and entertainment. Much was reported on the negative side of social media by both reporters. These includes; unwholesome connections for sinister, obsessive attitude of students towards social media, Time wasting, pinging and distraction from academic work. Seyi (2012) and Sofela (2012). Both shared that social media has no positive impacts on the academic work of students. This study considered that interest is an essential variable that affects Learning. Student’s engagement in social networking of their own interests could equally be of assistant to develop interest in their studies, if the social media in use is properly mapped out towards academic work, following the law of cause and effect. One of the fundamental laws that govern our lives for everything that we currently have in our lives is an effect that is a result of a specific cause. It focuses on the question “what is media to people” but rather “what people do with the media”. It discusses how users deliberately chooses media that will satisfy given needs and allow one to enhance knowledge, relaxation, social interaction, diversion or escape.

Modern Technology in this era has made it possible for students to relates cordially even at a far distance. Social media is one of the numerous means people use for Interaction and communication. Over 4.5  billion people are actively on one or more types of social media such as; Facebook,Instagram,2go, BB chat etc. Exchanging views, believes and order related matters with a good number of them being young. For the fact that the social media platform attracts youth interest, there is possibility of using such medium for the acquisition of academic knowledge and skills either deliberately or in deliberately. This study is to consider how much the use of social media has affected the academic performance of students in the Departments of English and History at Federal University, Otuoke.

 The objective of the study is to examine the extent to which the social media influences students’ academic performance. The specific objectives are to;

The following are key terms used in the research work: 

Impact: To have a strong effect on something or someone.

Social media: They are forms of electronic communication which facilitates interaction based on certain interest. Kaplan and Helen (2010) defined social media as a group of internet based applications that allows the creation and exchange of user generated content.

Academic: It is concerned with studying from books as opposed by a practical work. 

Students: Someone who is studying at a school and is interested in a particular subject.

The essence of this research work is to primarily study the impact of social media on the academic performance of students. Do you research interns to focus on students of the faculty of humanities, Federal University, Otuoke.

This study will help researchers with more information on the Impact of Social media on the student’s academic performance. It would be of help in assisting the students in understanding the diversity of social media. It will provide relevant material for students and other researchers undertaking similar research.