The Effect of Social Media Load on Academic Performance: A Study on University Students

University students, due to their age and position, use social media extensively in their daily lives. Social media usage has exposed university students to social media overload. In recent years, numerous new studies addressing social media overload and its sub-dimensions have emerged in the international literature. This study investigates the impact of social media overload and its sub-dimensions—communication overload, information overload, and social overload—on academic performance. The study sample consists of students enrolled at Gazi University and Hacı Bayram Veli University. In this context, data were collected from 617 university students through an online survey using a convenience sampling method, employing 7-point Likert-type scales. A quantitative data analysis method was applied for data analysis. Descriptive statistics, demographic distributions, normality analysis, validity and reliability tests, and regression analysis were conducted using the SPSS 21.0 software package. Confirmatory factor analysis was performed using the Lisrel 8.5 software package. The analysis results revealed that communication overload and information overload, as subdimensions of social media overload, do not have a direct impact on academic performance. However, social overload was found to negatively affect academic performance. Cite this article as: Erdal Akyüz, N., & Özdemir, M. (2025). The effect of social media load on academic performance: A study on university students. HAYEF: Journal of Education, 22, 0003, doi: 10.5152/hayef.2025.25003