Analyzing Effect of Social Media on Academic Performance of University Graduates

Abstract

Social media has become an integral part of our lives. In the millennial era, it is all the more intriguing in the lives of the University students. WhatsApp, Instagram, LinkedIn, Snapchat, Google Plus or YouTube are extensively used by them. The students may use social media for connectivity, sharing personal and academic information, entertainment or for any other reason. Moreover, more than one platform might be in use. There is a shift in the methodology of study from the use of books and papers to the tablets, laptops and even smart phones. All the gadgets have plethora of information available through internet which may act as a distraction from studies to the students. This paper therefore, is an attempt to analyze the extent to which the use of social media affects the academic performance of the students. A survey was administered to the engineering students of a University in Dubai through a questionnaire and SPSS software is used for analysis. The analysis highlights the fact that in the millennial era, it is not advisable to restrict the use of social media for the students. However, the students need to be counseled for using the social media for academic purposes and not get swayed towards just socializing. A balance between both the purposes will be the most preferred scenario.