ASSESSMENT OF THE EFFECT OF WHATSAPP MESSENGER USAGE ON STUDENT ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE: A LITERATURE REVIEW

Abstract

The global era of information and communication technology (ICT) in academic cannot be over emphasized. Integration of technology in education has shown positive effects on the behavior, attitude, perception, personality, knowledge etc. and some negative effects respectively. The main goal or the philosophy behind this paper is to assess the impact of WhatsApp usage on student academic performance. The paper reviewed enormous works on the research topic in order to make a position on how far WhatsApp has impacted on academic performance. The model adapted in the work indicated a clear relationship between WhatsApp and academic performance. The research methodology was essentially exploratory and therefore depended on secondary data for the examination of issues surrounding WhasApp and academic performance. Content analysis was used to make analysis. The researchers found out that evolution of ICT in the world has led to uncountable effects on education, especially on academic performance. People use social WhatsApp to pass time, for entertainment and learning at large. Many people get socialized through the use of WhatsApp. This avails them the opportunity to share pictures, academic videos, group/class interaction and other vital academic materials online. Also most students tend to spend time on WhatsApp than academic activities. Researches also indicated poor academic communication among students while writing examination. This to us will greatly affect the human capital development on the long run leading to half-baked and unproductive graduates. The researchers therefore, advice that strict rules and regulations should be made to that effect by the various educational institutions towards eliminating this abnormality.