Influence of social media on students’ academic performance in Lagos Metropolis

Abstract

This study examined influence of social media on students ’ academic performance among secondary school students in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State. The study sample comprised two hundred and fifty (n =250) senior secondary school two (ss2) students drawn from five secondary schools in the study areas, through stratified random sampling technique. The study was guided by three hypotheses while it adopted a descriptive survey design. A 25-item self-designed questionnaire titled Influence of Social Media on Students Academic Performance Questionnaire (ISMSAPQ) and Students Achievement Test (SAT) were used in the data collection. The instruments were validated and the reliability established through a pilot study with reliability coefficients of 0.76 and 0.74 (r=0.76;r= 0.74) respectively. The formulated hypotheses were tested using Chi-square, t-test and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) statistical tools. Findings revealed that social media usage has a significant influence on students academic performance, there is a gender difference in social media usage among secondary school student. Age was found not to have a significant influence on social media usage among secondary school students. Based on the findings, it was recommended among others that, Information Communication Technology (ICT) should be integrated in pedagogical practices in schools to serve as model of positive usage of the social media to students. Students’ usage of social media should be monitored and controlled by teachers and parents to curtail the negative influence .There is need to design appropriate behavioural change communication materials that will educate adolescents and parents about the potential benefits and draw backs of using social media.. Also, the government should ensure strict compliance to age restrictions in social networking thereby preventing the under aged from undue exposure to information that may be damaging to both his personality and educational pursuits.

Keywords: Social Media, Academic performance, Sustainable Educational Development