IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON STUDENTS’ EDUCATION

A CASE STUDY OF SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL IN GANYE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, ADAMAWA STATE

Abstract

Social media are computer programs that enable group or individual contact and are used to produce, share, and sporadically trade ideas, images, movies, content online and in virtual communities. In this study, three senior secondary schools, GDSS Ganye, GDSS COA, and GDSS Sugu in Ganye Local Government Area of Adamawa State are examined to see how social media impacts students' education. The effects of social media on students' education is the primary objective of this study. A descriptive survey study design was used. The study's participants were Senior Secondary School students in Ganye LGA. 183 students were selected as a sample using the simple random sampling technique. A questionnaire with a four-point Likert Type Rating Scale was used to collect information from the participants. Descriptive statistics like frequency counts and percentages were used to examine the respondent data, while inferential statistics like Chi-square (2) using Pearson product at a significance level of 0.05 were used to assess the study hypotheses. The results showed that student use of social media is addictive c²(3) 139.514) and that it significantly affects the spread of knowledge (2(3) 168.891). Additionally, there is a substantial difference in how social media networks are used by male and female students (2(3) 77.393, P0.000). The study recommended expanding social networking sites, creating new pages, using social media for educational reasons, and having teachers and parents closely monitor how their students use these sites. The findings indicated that social media use by students is addictive c²(3) 139.514) and that it has a significant impact on knowledge dissemination c²(3) 168.891). Additionally, there is a significant difference between male and female students' use of social media networks c²(3) 77.393, with P≤0.000. The survey found that many Senior Secondary School students possessed mobile phones with Internet capabilities and were aware of the availability of several media websites. In order to do this, the researcher suggested that social media be used for educational purposes as well; that social networking sites be enlarged; that new pages be developed; and that children should be closely watched by teachers and parents regarding how they use these sites.