Impact of Language of Social Media on Senior Secondary School Learners of English in Gwagwalada Area Council, Fct., Abuja

This project is titled “Impact of social media, specifically Facebook and Instagram, on English language proficiency among secondary school students in Gwagwalada Area Council, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria”. The study was motivated out of the addictive influence of students on social media and the language spoken therein, therefore, the study is aimed at assessing how social media influences students' language proficiency and academic performance in English, identifying challenges of social media, examining its impact on formal language skills, and exploring its role in creating digital distractions. The literature review of the study covered: ICT and social media evolution, Language use in social media, social media and language learning, and the impact of social media on Academic Performance. The theoretical framework for the study includes the social learning theory, and cognitive theory of Multimedia learning. The study employs a descriptive survey design, drawing on a sample of 133 SSII students selected from eight public secondary schools using simple random sampling. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire. Findings reveal that while social media enhances language learning engagement and academic outcomes, it also poses challenges such as distractions and the need for strategic integration into educational programs. Notably, students with social media literacy training demonstrated improved abilities to assess content credibility, though challenges persist in content evaluation. Recommendations emphasize the importance of social media literacy, the development of integration strategies that mitigate potential distractions, and further research on social media’s long-term impact on language learning in diverse educational contexts.