The impact of social media on student academic performance

Abstract

This study investigates the relationship between university student’s use of social media and their academic achievement. Students frequently rely on social media sites like Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and TikTok for both personal and academic reasons as these platforms become essential to daily communication. The study looks into how students' study habits, levels of focus, and academic results are influenced by how much time they spend online and why they use it. To gather information on usage trends, multitasking habits, and time management techniques, a survey was given to undergraduate students. The results indicate a mixed effect: while excessive non-academic use causes distraction, procrastination, less sleep, and weaker study habits, meaningful academic use—such as taking part in study groups or sharing learning materials— can boost students' performance. The study indicates that in order to effectively balance the negative and positive impacts of social media, users need to be mindful of their time and use it with care. It also recommends that learners should be equipped with social media literacy skills and be urged to use technology ethically.