The Impact of Social Media on the Academic Performance of University Students in Nigeria

Abstract

The article works is on impact of social media on the Academic performance of University students in Nigeria. Causal-comparative research design was adopted. The Four tertiary institutions used for study-  Nnamdi Azikiwe University-Awka, Delta State University, Abraka, Madonna University Okija campus and Anambra State University. Population of this study comprised of all the students in various departments in each schools. The total population selected through purposive sampling technique are twenty- five students in each school and the total therefore are hundred undergraduates and. Capture sampling is the method used to administer the instrument. Findings show that social media usage among students is not for academic purposes. Found out that the  following are often used by students -Facebook 40(40.81%), WhatsApp 20(20.40%) 2go/Skype 14(14.28%) and while Myspace, Twitter, badoo, Blogs/web scholars, Google+/ Social bookmarking are not often used by undergraduates in the four universities for the study. Another finding showed that students in the four universities use social media for reaching out to close/distance friends and general information about life.  The researchers proffer solutions to social media impact on education performance of students in Nigeria.

Keywords: Social media (websites), educational performance, Students and Universities