COMMUNICATIVE EFFECTS OF SOCIAL NETWORKS ON STUDENTS (A STUDY OF AKWA IBOM STATE POLYTECHNIC STUDENTS)

ABSTRACT This study was on Communicative Effects of Social Networks on Students (a Study of AkwaIbom State Polytechnic Students). The objectives were to find out the extent AkwaIbom State Polytechnic students use social media. To find out if students of AkwaIbom State Polytechnic use social media in communication. To examine the communicative effect of social networks on AkwaIbom State polytechnic students’ behavior. To examine the extent social networks affect the lifestyle of students of AkwaIbom state polytechnic. The theories that suits the study are Uses and Gratification Theory (UGT) and Media System Dependence Theory. The study adopted case study research method and Cluster Random Sampling was employed to select 260 sample size from the population of the study among students of AkwaIbom State Polytechnic. At the end, the study found Students of AkwaIbom State Polytechnic use Social Network. The platform through which Students of AkwaIbom State Polytechnic make use of Social Networks are through Facebook, Whatsapp, Myspace and BBM. The extent social networks influence the communication style of AkwaIbom State Polytechnic Students is to a great extent. Social Networks has a communicative effect on AkwaIbom State Polytechnic Students. Hence, it was recommended that social networking servers should be upgraded in line with the students’ current academic needs and challenges, this will go a long way in encouraging students to adequately utilize the potentials of social networks academic excellence. Also, encouraging academic staff active utilization of the site for imparting knowledge to students is another realizable recommendation. This action will boost group academic communication, and also encourage and sustain student’s effort towards learning and problems solving.