1.1 Introduction
Social media is the connection of friends or family together which allows one to communicate easily. With media one can have a long chain of friends chat, or share information or ideal with. According to Boyd & Ellison (2008), Social networking sites can be defined as web-based services that allow individuals to construct a public or semi-public profile within a bounded system, articulate a list of other users with whom they share a connection, and view and traverse their list of connections and those made by others within the system. It is difficult to imagine a young man who at least once a day did not check for updates in social networks and did not leaf through the news lines. When social media such as Facebook, YouTube and Twitter appeared, our world was divided into online and offline (Shensa et al., 2015).
As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.
1.2 Background of Study
The world is today celebrating the improvements in communication technology which has broadened the scope of communication through Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). Modern Technology in communication no doubt has turned the entire world into a “Global village”. But as it is, technology like two sides of a coin, bring with it both negative and positive sides. It helps people to be better informed, enlightened, and keeping abreast with world developments.
Technology exposes mankind to a better way of doing things. Social networking sites include: Twitter, Yahoo Messenger, Facebook Messenger, Blackberry Messenger (BBM), Whats app messenger, 2go messenger, Skype, Google talk, Google Messenger, iPhone and Androids. These networking sites are used by most people to interact with old and new friends, physical or internet friends ( Asemah and Edegoh, 2012). The world has been changed rapidly by the evolution of technology; this has resulted into the use of technology as the best medium to explore the wide area of knowledge.
The evolution of internet technology has led to its use as the best medium for communication. Whereby, two-third of the world’s internet population visits social networking or blogging sites, thus serving as a communication and connection tool. Social networking sites (SNSs) are online Communities of Internet users who want to communicate with other users about areas of mutual interest, whether from a personal, 2 business or academic perspective (William ,Boyd, Densten, Chin, Diamond & Morgenthaler 2009). The millions of social networking sites have transformed the thought of global village into a reality whereby billions of people communicate through social networking sites.
Numerous benefits have been obtained through distant communication through the use of social networking sites. Academic excellence or achievement plays an important role in an individual placement, be it in the academic institutions or job placement. Due to this, many people are concerned with the ways they can enhance their academic achievement. The emphasis on academic excellence which is also prevalent worldwide has encouraged many studies about the conditions promoting it. The role of academic achievement as one of the predictors of one’s life success and also in the aspect of academic placement in schools to higher institutions as well as the level of employability in one’s career is inevitable (Kyoshaba, 2009).
A direct relationship exists between Social media usage and the academic performance of students in universities. However the darker side within technological evolution has resulted in dilemmas such as the setback of real values of life especially among students who form the majority of users interacting through the use of social networking sites. Online social networking sites focus on building and reflecting social associations among people who share interests and or activities. With so many social networking sites displayed on the internet, students are tempted to abandon their homework and reading times in preference for chatting online with friends. Many students are now addicted to the online rave of the moment, with Facebook, Twitter etc. Today most youths and students possess Facebook accounts.
The advanced and improved usage of social media platforms such as Facebook has become a worldwide phenomenon for quite some time. Though it all started has been a hobby for several computer literates individual has changed to become a social norm and existence-style for students around the world (Nicole, 2007). According to Nicole, (2007), students and teenagers have especially recognized these social media platforms to be able to contact their peers, share information, reinvent their personas and showcase their social live. Facebook users often experience poor academic performance. Also Karpinski (2009) stated that social media has a negative association with students’ academic performance which is much greater than the advantages derived through the use of social media platforms.
People around the globe have been addicted to the internet which has given rise to more students using social media more often than before. Nalwa & Anand (2003) advised and recommended that those who are addicted users love to use the internet to set back their personal and professional responsibilities in which the final outcome is poor academic performance. It was highlighted in the finding of Karpinski (2009) that social media platforms (Facebook, Whatsapp etc) users usually devote lesser time to their studies has to compared to nonusers did and subsequently has lower GPAs.
It was also mentioned by Karpinski, & Duberstein (2009), that among the major distraction of current generation that social media platform (such Facebook, Watzapp etc.) remains a major distractions. According to Kubey, Lavin, and Barrows (2001), there is a correlation between academic performance and the dependency on social media platforms. Researchers have conducted different studies to find out the influence of social platforms users, for instance a study on ‘’impact of Facebook on undergraduates academic performance’’, stated that social platforms have negative impact on students.
Social information processing theory is an interpersonal communication theory which suggests that online interpersonal relationship development might require more time to develop than face-to-face relationships, but when developed, it has the same influence as face-to-face communication. This means, the more students use social media, the more they influence their disposition to studies, given the fact that friends from social media will begin to exert influence on each other.
Therefore, in Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic Unwana where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Social Media Use, Interest and Influence among Graduating Student.
1.3 Statement of Problems
Investigation revealed that graduating students’ addictiveness to social networks, students’ frequency of exposure to social network, social media network that the students are more exposed to and the influence of social media as a medium of interaction between students has been part of discussion in recent times and which have imparted on their academic performance.
Instead of students reading their books, they spend their time chatting and making friends via the social media and this might definitely have influence on their academic performance, because when you do not read, there is no way you can perform well academically. It is a common sight to see a student chatting in sensitive and highly organized places like church, mosque and lecture venues. Some are so carried away that even as they are walking along the high way, they keep chatting.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of the study is to examine the Social Media Use, Interest and Influence among Graduating Student of Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic Unwana. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To examine the level of graduating student addictiveness to social media and the influence on their academic performance.
- To determine the social media network that the graduating students are more exposed to and the influence on their academic performance.
- To ascertain the difference in students’ usage of social media network by gender.
- To ascertain how the use of social media has influence the academic performance of the students in Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic Unwana.
1.5 Research Questions
The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:
- Does the social media network that the graduating students are more exposed to and the influence on their academic performance?
- Is there gender difference in the students’ usage of social media network by gender?
- To what extent would graduating student addictiveness to social media and the influence on their academic performance?
- How the use of social media has influence the academic performance of the students in Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic Unwana?
1.6 Research Hypothesis
In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.
Hypothesis One
- H0: Graduating students’ addictiveness to social network has no significant influence on their academic performance.
- H1: Graduating students’ addictiveness to social network has significant influence on their academic performance
Hypothesis Two
- H0: Graduating student’s exposure to social media network has no significant influence on students’ academic performance.
- H1: Graduating student’s exposure to social media network has significant influence on students’ academic performance.
1.7 Significance of Study
This study is significant to the teachers, parents and students. This study will help the teachers of the school to know the influence that social media has on their students, so as to assist them to enlighten and create awareness to the students on the possible influence it has on them.
The study is of significant to parents in the sense that they will know the possible effects these social media usage has on their children, so as to serve as watch-dog to their children on the usage of the social networking site.
This study will be of immense benefit to other researchers who intend to know more on this study and can also be used by non-researchers to build more on their research work. This study contributes to knowledge and could serve as a guide for other study.
1.8 Scope of Study
The scope of the research is focused on the Social Media Use, Interest and Influence among Graduating Student of Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic Unwana.
1.9 Limitations of the Study
During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:
- Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
- Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
- Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
- Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
1.10 Operational Definition of Terms
The following terms were used in the course of this study:
Social Media: This refers to computer-mediated technologies that facilitate the creation and sharing of information ideas, career interests and other forms of expression via virtual communities and networks.
Academic Performance: This refers to the extent to which a student, teacher or institution has achieved their short or long-term educational goals. Cumulative GPA and completion of educational degrees such as High School and Bachelor’s degrees represent academic achievement.
Social Networking Sites: A website where people put information about them and can send to others.
