SOCIAL MEDIA USE OF UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS: A STUDY OF UNICROSS, CALABAR CAMPUS

This research is to examine the influence of social media use of undergraduate students in UNICROSS, Calabar Campus. Most youths and students possess Facebook, WhatsApp, TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube accounts, one of the reason most of them perform poorly in school. To achieve this, the study employed the survey research method. The sampling technique employed in this study was the simple random sampling method. Taro Yamane Statistical formula was used to obtaining the sample size. Questionnaire was used as an instrument for data collection. 325 copies of questionnaire were administerebdut 324 was retrieved, hence it was used for the analysis. This work was anchored on social information process theory and media equation theory. Based on the result of the findings, it was revealed that the use of social media influences UNICROSS student academic performance. It shows that social media distracts the students from studying. It also shows that age and gender difference influences the use of social media among UNICROSS students. The study recommends that Students should manage their study time and prevent distractions. It also recommends that students should be enlightened on the right choice of social media network to use which can help their academic performance.