Impact Of Social Media On Academic Engagement Of University Of Ilorin Undergraduate Students

Abstract

The study focuses on the influence of social media in educational involvement of undergraduate students at University of Ilorin with a particular focus on the implications for responsible digital learning and institutional practice. The study aimed to determine most popular social media among students, explore social media's impact on academic involvement, investigate relationship between social media usage and academic engagement, uncover challenges with using social media for academic purposes and identify strategies for encouraging responsible and productive academic use of social media. Descriptive survey research design was used. The population of study consisted of undergraduate students of University of Ilorin and  respondents were selected using multi-stage sampling technique in various faculties. The instruments used in collecting the data were a structured questionnaire developed by the researcher that was validated by experts and then was tested for its reliability by Cronbach alpha method. Data analysis techniques used were descriptive and inferential statistics. The results revealed that social media use by students is extensive and that its impact has both positive and negative consequences for their academic involvement. Social media allows the access to academic materials, communication, collaboration, clarification of academic issues and participation in learning activities. However, overuse and misuse can lead to distraction, lower concentration, time management problems, and other hindrances to effective engagement in learning. The study concludes that when social media is used educationally with the proper institutional guidance and responsible use, it can enhance academic engagement. It thus calls for better integration of appropriate digital social engagement in  learning process, the formulation of institutional guidelines for responsible academic use of social media, better support for digital learning, and the promotion of digital learning for students. Such measures can help universities to establish structured, inclusive and productive digital learning spaces.