Influence of social networking sites on undergraduate students’ academic performance in Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State

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This study aims to provide empirical insight into the effect of social networking sites on undergraduate students’ academic performance in Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State. It identified the various forms of social networking engaged by undergraduate students in Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. It also investigates the significant effects of social networking sites on undergraduate students’ academic performance and furthered by ascertain the undergraduate students’ attitudes towards social networking sites. The study finally determined gender influence of undergraduate students on various forms of social networking in Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State. These were with a view to develop positive attitudes in students towards the use of social networking sites and also improve their academic performance in schools. The study employed a descriptive survey research design. The population for the study comprised all undergraduate students of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State. Four hundred undergraduate students were randomly selected from four randomly selected faculties in Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, through simple random sampling technique. Questionnaire developed by the researcher titled “Student Assessment Questionnaire on Social Networking Sites” (SAQSNS) was used for data collection and it consisted of four sections. Data collected were analyzed using simple percentage and chi-square analysis. The results of the study showed that majority of the respondents engaged in social networking. 398(99.5%) of the respondents operate on Facebook; 251(62.8%) engaged in twitter; and 393(98.3%) also involved in WhatsApp. The results also revealed that social networking activities engaged by the students had little influence on their academic performance. 69(17.3%) of the subjects are on CGPA of 4.50 and above. 191(47.8%) had a CGPA of 3.50 to 4.49 while 57(14.3%) are on a CGPA of between 2.40 and 3.49. this implies that majority of the respondents are doing well in their academic in school. The results further showed a positive attitude of students to social networking activities. 334(84.5%) of the subjects said that social networking sites help them in downloading course materials they needed in school. The results finally revealed that gender had influence on students’ social networking which favour more males engaging in social networking than females (x2 =245.105, p<0.05). It is concluded that gender is an important factor as far as social networking sites is concerned among undergraduate students.