Encounter Facebook: An Appraisal on the Making and Unmaking of Ethiopian University Students’ Socio-politics

Abstract

The general objective of this research is to assess the effects of Face book on the making and unmaking of University students socio-political activities. To achieve the objective, both primary and secondary sources of data were collected and interpreted using mixed research approach. As far as primary sources of data were concerned, first hand information collected from 500 University students via questionnaires, interviews and focus group discussions. Furthermore, the primary data were substantiated by secondary sources. Using the data the researchers reached upon the following conclusions; the general assessment of facebook usage among Ethiopian public University students is in perspectives. The effects of facebook usage on Ethiopian university students’ academic performances, is in perspective. Majority of the university students explain the positive contribution of facebook on students’ academic performance while some others tudents are explain as facebook usage affects their academic performances negatively. In similar manner, facebook usage has both positive and negative effects on University students’ social interactions. Facebook helps students to deliver message accurately at all time, contact with relatives and friends at distance with less cost and easily while it deteriorated social gathering and discussion, and promote individualism. However, in relation to facebook usage and political activism, the finding shows that majority of Ethiopian University students are passive in overtly participating in online political activism. Generally, it is possible to conclude that facebook has both positive and negative effects on Ethiopian university students’ socio-politics, which seek attention to create awareness among university students in order to exploit the fruits of facebook absolutely and reduce its negative impacts.