Explaining the Academic Performance of Grade 7 Students as Influenced by Social Media

Abstract

Social media is prevalent in today’s classrooms and schools. Teachers have viewed it as an aid in instruction as students can be engaged in its different platforms. However, the excessive use of social media especially during weekdays can be alarming to both teachers and parents. This study looks at social media network participation and academic performance in Grade 7 students of Baybay National High School. The study was aimed at identifying the correlation between social media and students’ academic performance in Mathematics, The study used both qualitative and quantitative research design which involved the survey of students in three Grade 7 sections and the conduct of a standardized test in Mathematics wherein they were categorized according to the number of hours they spent in social media a day. The study revealed that there was a correlation between the number of hours spent on social media a day and students’ academic performance. Furthermore, there was a significant difference between the test scores of the students who use social media for less than an hour (0 hour) and those who use for 1-3 hours and 7+ hours. This indicated that students with lesser time spent on social media a day performed better. The study recommended to minimize the use of social media a day and prioritize academic purposes above others. On top of that, it encouraged to make the study a habit for students.