Influence of Social Media Utilization on the Self-Esteem and Academic Achievement of Secondary School Students in South Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Secondary school students spend most of their time on social media sites chatting with friends and less time studying, resulting in lower grades. Today’s younger generation is hooked on social media, which has put increased pressure on adolescents. Therefore; this study aimed to investigate effect of social media use on academic achievement and self-esteem of high school students in south Ethiopia. Method: A cross sectional survey design was applied. Systematic random sampling technique was used. The data was analyzed by using descriptive (mean, standard deviation, percentage) and inferential statistics(R square, independent t-test and ANOVA). Multiple regression analysis was conducted. Result: The findings of this study revealed that, Intensity of Social media utilization has a statistically significant influence on self-esteem (p=0.46) and no a statistically significant influence on academic achievement (p=.904). Extent of Social media utilization has significant difference (M=52, SD=.501) and (M=58, SD=.494) among study participants. There were negative relationship(r=-.107) between self- esteem and academic achievement among study participants. There were statistically significant difference between mean score of social media utilization (M=65.73, SD =3.292, N=152) (M=65.97, SD=3.950, N=67) and M =.-716, t (152) , p =.0828, and M =.-716, t (67) =, p =.073) self-esteem regarding to male and female among study participants. Conclusion: This implies that the finding shows that there is significant influence in social media utilization on self-esteem and academic achievement of secondary school students’. This indicates that stockholders should take responsibility to handle the students’ from the problems of technological gadgets.