THE INFLUENCE OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON THE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF UNDERGRADUATES IN THE UNIVERSITY OF BENIN, BENIN CITY

ABSTRACT

The study investigated the influence of social media on the academic performance of undergraduates in the University of Benin, Benin City. The design adopted for this study was the descriptive survey research method. Four research questions were raised to guide this study: What social networking sites do students have access to? What are the reasons why students surf the net in the area of study? Has the use of social media aroused students in their academics and study patterns? Is social media a form of distraction to students in the area of study? The population of the study was a total number of forty three thousand seven hundred and seventy two students in the University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria. The sample size for this study is a total number of two hundred (200) students adopting the simple random sampling technique. The data retrieved from respondents were checked critically for completeness and consistency. Data was analyzed by the use of percentages and frequency tables. It was discovered from findings in this study that the social media has eaten deep into the fabrics of students in the area of study. Hardly will you find a student in the University of Benin without a smart phone, either an Android or iPhone. Despite its usefulness to the academics of students, it has posed a very huge distraction to them. This is evident in the fact that most students chit-chat during lectures, while most of them spend quality time browsing the internet at home, instead of studying. This, and more was discussed in the study. It was therefore recommended that students should strike a balance between social activities and academic activities. Also, that they should switch off their phones when in lectures halls, or better still, put it on flight mode. Lastly, it was recommended that students should draw a time-table of study time in order not to get too distracted with social media sites.