Mediating Role of Smart Learning Environment in the Relationship Between Social Media and Academic Performance Among University Students

This study sought to determine the extent to which social media influence the academic performance among university students via smart learning as a mediator. A positivism research philosophy and cross-sectional survey design guided the study. A convenience sampling technique was used to select a sample size of 458 respondents. Primary data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Partial least squares-structural equation model (PLS-SEM) was employed to analyze the structural model and determine the direct connections between the different constructs. The results establish that social media has a positive and significant effects on academic performance and smart learning environment ((β = 0.396, t = 6.568, p < 0.000; β = 0.576, t = 8.923, p < 0.000) respectively). Simultaneously, smart learning environment had a positive and significant direct effect of academic performance among university students (β = 0.646, t = 9.75, p < 0.000). The study concluded that social media significantly influenced the academic performance of university students in Kenya. The study recommends that, university policy-makers need to prioritize investments on social media platforms and enhance smart learning environment within the institutions of higher learning. This can be achieved by deliberately allocating substantial resources towards adoption of the appropriate educational technological innovations, faculty technological skills development and enhancement of digitization of university academic services.