INFLUENCE OF SOCIAL MEDIA AND DIGITAL LITERACY ON ACADEMIC ACTIVITIES OF LECTURERS IN FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC, OFFA AND SUMMIT UNIVERSITY, OFFA

ABSTRACT This study investigates the influence of social media and digital literacy on academic activities of lecturers in Federal Polytechnic, Offa, and Summit University, Offa. A descriptive survey research design was employed and a self-developed questionnaire was administered to a sample of 134 lecturers from both institutions. Social media has been found to have both positive and negative impacts on academic performance. On the positive side, social media can serve as a valuable tool for learning, allowing lecturers to share resources, collaborate with students, and facilitate discussions. The results showed that social media and digital literacy have a significant influence on the academic activities of lecturers including facilitating to online training and workshops, collaborating with other researchers internatioally, and supporting sharing of academic resources and materials with students. However, the study also identifies challenges faced by lecturers in using social media for academic activities, including concerns about copyright and intellectual properties. The study recommends that the lecturers of the selected institutions should work on improving, upgrading and identification of more useful social media platform and digital tools to enhance their teaching, lecturing, sharing of resources, and others. This is consider ethical as it embrace self improvement and ensures that all students have access to equal learning while they explore more in the tools.