USES AND GRATIFICATION OF SMARTPHONES AMONGST MASS COMMUNICATION STUDENTS IN UNICROSS CALABAR

The study examined Uses and Gratification of Smart phones Amongst Mass Communication Students in Unicross.This is limited to Smartphones and it users. The objective of this study was to find out what Nass Communication Students in Unicross do with their Smartphones and also to what extent does ownership affect their studies in mass communication department.The theoretical framework is the Uses and Gratification theory. The Survey method was adopted for the study, while questionnaire was the instrument for data collection. At the end of the study, 350 copies of questionnaire were distributed and the researcher retrieved 346 and 4 copies were not rightly responded to. Findings from the study revealed that this technological innovation has become a fashionable necessity, providing access to the internet at all times and allowing a new way of learning; mobile learning. This research paper examines how students are taking advantage of this innovative technology, socially and in their education. The results of this research paper support the notion that an increasing number of students do use their smartphones for educational purposes and in many situations replacing the use of laptops.The study further recommended that rather than engaging in inappropriate activities like pornography,sexting etc on their mobile phones, students should use than for study and opportunities hunting and also for academic purposes.