Mobile Phone Internet Usage and Students’ Achievements in Tanzania Higher Learning Institutions

Abstract

This study sought to determine the effects of mobile phone internet usage on students’ achievements in selected Tanzanian higher learning institutions.  Cross sectional survey design was adopted in collecting data from 204 conveniently selected respondents from the population of students who were studying at the National Institute of Transport and the University of Dar es Salaam. Data was collected by using a questionnaire whereby analysis involved both descriptive and inferential statistics. The descriptive statistics revealed that academic uses of mobile phone internet are more dominant, followed by social uses and economic uses.  The inferential statistics revealed that social and academic uses variables make significant unique contributions to the prediction of the dependent variable, students’ achievements with economic uses having insignificant contribution to the variable. The study recommended that given uncontrollable uses of mobile phone internet among students, some initiatives are essential as a proactive measure for enhancing students’ academic excellence and minimizing serious vulnerabilities associated with irresponsible internet usage.