INFLUENCE OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON STUDY HABITS OF UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS OF FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF LOKOJA KOGI STATE

This study investigated the influence of social media on the study habits of undergraduate students at Federal University Lokoja, Kogi State, Nigeria. Social Media platforms have become essential part of students' daily routines and retain information. This study examined the extent to which social media usage impacted on students' study habits, including time management, concentration, reading patterns, and academic discipline.A descriptive survey research design was adopted to assess these effects. The target population comprised all undergraduate students of the university numbering seventeen thousand (17,000 )across various faculties and academic levels. A multi-stage sampling technique was employed to ensure fair representation. First, three faculties were purposively selected based on their relevance to the study. Then, stratified random sampling was used to select students from different academic levels within these faculties.The study utilized a structured questionnaire as the primary data collection instrument. The questionnaire was divided into sections covering demographic information, social media usage patterns, and study habits. A sample size of 300 students was determined using Krejcie and Morgan’s (1970) formula. Data collected from the respondents were coded and entered into the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 25 to establish relationships between social media usage and study habits.Ethical considerations, including informed consent and confidentiality, were strictly upheld. The findings provided insights into how social media influences students' study habits, highlighting both benefits and challenges. Recommendations were made for students, educators, and policymakers on optimizing social media for better study habits and academic discipline.