INFLUENCE OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON THE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF ECONOM ICS STUDENTS IN JOS NORTHLOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA PLATEAU STATE

ABSTRACT The study aimed at examining the influence of social media on the academic performance of students in Economics in Senior Secondary Schools in Jos North L.G.A Plateau State. Four research objectives and four research questions were raised with a corresponding hypothesis. A expos-facto correlational design. The population of the study consists of all 22 public secondary schools in the area. There are 89 Economics teachers, 1240 Economics students. The sample was 120 students, 25 teachers of Economics were chosen as a sample. A random sampling technique was used in this study. Questionnaire is titled Influence of Social Media on the Academic Performance of Students Questionnaire’’ (ISMAPSQ). Mean and standard deviations were used to answer the research questions, while chi-square of independent sample was used to test Null hypotheses at a 0.05 level of significance. The findings of this study showed that, though Social media have negative effects on teenagers such as lack of privacy, distracting students from their academic work, taking most of their productive time, and such like, they also have benefits and can be used appropriately. It was recommended among others that Teachers should ensure they use the social media as a tool to improve the academic performance of students in schools and Social Networking Sites should be expanded and new pages should be created to enhance academic activities and avoid setbacks in the students’ academic performance. will hopefully be of significance