Effects of Social Media Use on Educational Performance Among Secondary School Students In District Faisalabad

Abstract

Technological improvements have led students and young people to dominate the internet, particularly social media. One wonders how they balance using social media and being up to date on schoolwork. The impact of media on educational performance can be both positive and negative, and it is important to consider various factors when assessing its influence. Educational programs and content delivered through media can positively influence students' learning experiences. Platforms like educational television programs, online courses, and interactive learning apps can provide supplementary resources that enhance students' understanding of academic subjects. This research analyzed the effects of social media use on educational performance among secondary school students (SSS) in the district Faisalabad. For the present study, all secondary school students of the district Faisalabad who were studying in 9^th and 10^th classes were selected. A multistage sampling technique was used for data collection. At first, two tehsils were selected randomly; at 2^nd stage, 6 secondary schools (3 from each tehsil) were selected randomly. At the 3^rd, 120 (20 from each school) secondary school students (9^th/10^th class) were selected randomly. The information was gathered through the use of an interview schedule. The collected data were examined using descriptive statistics, and the chi-square and gamma tests were used to test the hypothesis. The study revealed several key insights regarding students' use of smartphones and social media. About 45.0% of respondents exhibited high smartphone usage, and a majority (56.7%) frequently used the internet. Less than half (48.03%) of the students spent 3-5 hours daily on social media. The most popular social media sites among students were YouTube (91.7%), WhatsApp (85.8%), Facebook (75.8%), Instagram (74.2%), Snapchat (66.7%), TikTok (54.2%), and Twitter (54.2%).  Over half (54.2%) of students used social media for educational purposes, and 38.3% found it motivational for recreation and entertainment. Most of the students agreed that social media creates awareness of new trends (3.82±1.05), provides the latest knowledge and information (3.79±1.19), is essential for learning and skill acquisition (3.77±1.11), and facilitates global cultural awareness (3.73±). Students acknowledged some negative impacts of social media, including health issues due to addiction (3.47±1.21), diminished academic performance (3.33±1.20), and deteriorating writing abilities (3.14±1.13). Study results indicated that around half of the students used >3-5 hours daily on social media networking sites. So, parents and school teachers should encourage students to balance their time on social media with other activities to prevent addiction and adverse health effects. Encourage parents to engage with their children's social media use, setting healthy boundaries and promoting positive online behavior.