THE EFFECT OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON ACADEMIC AND MORAL DEVELOPMENT OF SELECTED STUDENTS

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1       Background of the Study

Social media are computer-mediated technologies that allow the creating and sharing of information, ideas, career interests and other forms of expression via virtual communities and networks. The variety of stand-alone and built-in social media services currently available introduces challenges of definition. However, there are some common features.

§  Social media are interactive Web 2.0 Internet-based applications.

§ User-generated content, such as text posts or comments, digital photos or videos, and data generated through all online interactions, are the lifeblood of social media.

§  Users create service-specific profiles for the website or app that are designed and maintained by the social media organization.

§  Social media facilitate the development of online social networks by connecting a user's profile with those of other individuals and/or groups.

Social media use web-based technologies, desktop computers and mobile technologies (e.g., smart phones and tablet computers) to create highly interactive platforms through which individuals, communities and organizations can share, co-create, discuss, and modify user-generated content or pre-made content posted online. They introduce substantial and pervasive changes to communication between businesses, organizations, communities and individuals. Social media changes the way individuals and large organizations communicate. These changes are the focus of the emerging field of techno self studies. In America, a survey reported that 84 percent of adolescents in America have a Facebook account.  Over 60% of 13 to 17-year-olds have at least one profile on social media, with many spending more than two hours a day on social networking sites. According to Nielsen, Internet users continue to spend more time on social media sites than on any other type of site. At the same time, the total time spent on social media sites in the U.S. across PCs as well as on mobile devices increased by 99 percent to 121 billion minutes in July 2012 compared to 66 billion minutes in July 2011. For content contributors, the benefits of participating in social media have gone beyond simply social sharing to building reputation and bringing in career opportunities and monetary income.

Social media differ from paper-based or traditional electronic media such as TV broadcasting in many ways, including quality, reach, frequency, usability, immediacy, and permanence. Social media operate in a dialogic transmission system (many sources to many receivers). 

This is in contrast to traditional media which operates under a monologic transmission model (one source to many receivers), such as a paper newspaper which is delivered to many subscribers. 

Observers have noted a range of positive and negative impacts from social media use. Social media can help to improve individuals' sense of connectedness with real and/or online communities and social media can be an effective communications (or marketing) tool for corporations, entrepreneurs, nonprofit organizations, including advocacy groups and political parties and governments. At the same time, concerns have been raised about possible links between heavy social media use and depression, and even the issues of cyberbullying, online harassment and "trolling". Currently, about half of young adults have been cyberbullied and of those, 20 percent said that they have been cyberbullied on a regular basis. Another survey was carried out among 7th grade students in America which is known as the Precaution Process Adoption Model. According to this study 69 percent of 7th grade students claim to have experienced cyberbullying and they also said that it is worse than face to face bullying.

1.2       Statement of problem

The rapid advancement of media technology has had a great impact on the way people communicate on a dailybasis. The growing dimension of the use of the social media among the youth of today cannot be overemphasized. Over the years, social networking among students has become more and more popular. It is a wayto make connections, not only on campus but with friends outside of school. Social networking is a way thathelps people feel they belong to a community. Due to the increased popularly of it, economists and professorsare questioning whether grades of students will not be affected by how much time is spent on these sites.

Choney, (2010), MehMood&Taswir, (2013), Kist (2008), Jacobsen &Forste, (2011), believe that the use oftechnology such as internet is one of the most important factors that can influence educational performance ofstudents positively or adversely. Many parents and guardians are worried that students are spending too muchtime on facebook and other social media sites and have not enough time to study. Though parents are worriedabout students’ constant use of the social media sites, many students continue to utilize these sites on a dailybasis. It is against this background that this research is being conducted to ascertain the impact of students’ useof social media sites on their academic work.

1.3       Objectives of the Study

The general objective of the study was to find out the effect of social media on academic performance and moral development amongstudents. The specific objectives of the study were as follows:

i.                          To examine the effect of social media on academic performance among the students.

ii.                        To identify the benefits obtained as well as disadvantages from using the social media.

iii.                      To ascertain what students use social media sites for

1.4       Research Questions

        i.            Does the use of social media sites have any effect  on student’s academic performance and moral development among student?

      ii.            What are the benefits they derive from using social media?

    iii.            Why do student visit their social media sites.

1.5       Significance of the 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. The study will enable the students of the senior level so that they will be aware that, apart from the social benefits of this social networking site, using the sites more than necessary will pose possible dangers to their health. It will be relevant in assisting students in understanding the diversity of social media.

It will provide relevance material for students and other researchers undertaking similar research. The study will help researchers with more information on the Influence of social media on student’s academic performance.

1.6       Scope of the Study

The focus of this research work is to primarily study the Influence of social media on moral and academic performance of students. Hence, the study will focusstudents in Ado-Odo Ota Local Government Area, of Ogun state.

1.7       Definition of Terms

As words may mean differently in different contexts, the following definitions are given as the words used as intended to be understood for the purpose of this study.

Social Media: They are forms of electronic communication which facilitate interactive base on certain interests. Social media include web and mobile technology

Social Networking Sites: A website where people put information about them and can send to others Social Networking: The use of internet to make information about yourself available to other people especially people you share an interest with to send messages to them.

Media: Are all those media technologies that are intended to reach a large audience by mass communication. “They are messages communicated through a mass medium to a number of people.

Academic: It is concerned with Studying from books as opposed by a practical work.

Academic Output or (academic) performance is the outcome of education — the extent to which a student, teacher or institution has achieved their educational goals.

Students: Someone who is Studying at a University or School.Someone who is very interested in a particular subject.