Effects of Social Networking Sites (SNS) on the Academic Performance of Students in University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos State, Nigeria

The study investigated the effect of social networking sites on the academic performance of students in tertiary institutions in Nigeria. The study population comprised all students in the University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos State, Nigeria. The sample consisted of students in six faculties out of the nine faculties in the University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos state, Nigeria, selected through purposive sampling techniques. The subjects were 300 respondents, 50 from each faculty. The instruments were a questionnaire and an interview paper validated by test test-retest method. The research design was a survey-type descriptive research design. The obtained results showed that respondents mostly use social networking sites mainly for chatting and educational purposes. The majority of the respondents agreed that social networks enhance their academic performance when used properly for assignments and academic discussion. Result also indicated no differences in the academic performance of male users and female users. It was recommended that policymakers and all stakeholders should evolve strategies to guide and ensure that social networking sites are adopted mostly for academic purposes, especially among the students of tertiary institutions.