Assessment of the Influence of the Use of Social Media on Academic Performance of Veritas University Abuja Students

ABSTRACT
This study was carried out to examine how social media influence the academic performance of the students of Veritas University Abuja. The study adopted Survey research design with the questionnaire used as the research instrument for data collection. Based on the data analyzed through descriptive statistical method, the study found that students of Veritas University Abuja make use of different social media platforms but the most often used ones were WhatsApp followed by Instagram and Tik Tok in that order. Also, mobile phone was handier in accessing social media among students as compared to other tools like the Laptop, Desktop, Palmtop and iPad. Another finding was that using social media for academic activities was the least priority of students and self-proportion was their top priority of using the WhatsApp as opposed to academic activities. Finding also revealed that WhatsApp was a social media platform that was embraced by majority of students for use on a daily basis; although students utilized it to a great extent it does not positively influence their academic activities because of the little priority they give for academic activities on the platform. Furthermore, finding revealed that student’s utilization of the social media is challenged by some factors that can hinder them in achieving a complete success in the use of the platform. The conclusion of the study was that social media are platforms that attract a lot of users among students’ group with daring impact of its usage on their academic performance as they spend more time on areas other than academic in the use of the platforms. The study therefore, recommended for continued use of social media among students since there is no problem with its usage but the purpose and essence to which it is used that can determine success or failure. The study recommended for adequate sensitization on the positive use of social media for academic purpose among students be made through seminars, workshops, conferences and other related platforms to enable students understand the benefits of the use of social media to improve their performance in academics rather than decreasing it. It also charged students to dedicate more time for academic activities on social media rather than merely posting personal photos and videos to enable them achieve more success in academics through the use of the platform. The study equally charged students who cannot make use of social media more for academic activities to avoid using the platform during time for academic activities to avoid the interference that follows with combing the two.