Social Media: Students’ Academics and Personal Lives

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 Esther Ilori

Social media has become an integral part of modern life, encompassing websites that allow users to create, share content, engage in discussions, and connect with others. As a form of mass media communication, it enables individuals to share information, ideas, personal messages, and other content, such as videos and photos. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and TikTok have revolutionised how we communicate, stay informed, and build online communities.

In today’s digital age, social media has established itself as an important aspect of daily life, with billions of people worldwide using these platforms to stay connected, share their experiences, and access knowledge. For students, social media plays a significant role in both their academic and personal lives. During an interview with several students, they shared their perspectives on how social media impacts their studies and personal well-being.

Folabunmi Olose, highlighted how social media has positively influenced her academic journey. According to Folabunmi, social media has provided her with access to valuable information beyond what is taught in class, which has helped broaden her knowledge. “Through social media, I came across experts in my field who have inspired me to do better,” she explained.

Despite the benefits, Folabunmi admitted to struggling to maintain a balance between her academic and personal use of social media. “I find it difficult to set boundaries between academic and personal use of social media,” she revealed, acknowledging the challenge of drawing a clear line between the two areas.

Another student, Ibukunoluwa Abiodun, also discussed the significant role social media plays in her academic life. She confessed that managing her time between academic work and social media use has been challenging. “I find it difficult to balance my academic and personal use of social media,” Ibukunoluwa shared, emphasising how hard it can be to prioritise her studies while staying connected online. She also admitted that there are days when she might not even go online, but she remained unsure whether she spent too much time on social media.

However, for many students, social media is not just a source of distraction; it also serves as an essential tool for staying informed about classes, assignments, and important updates. Students often feel pressured to stay online to receive updates about their academic responsibilities. This constant need to be connected, however, can harm their academic performance and mental health.

Zukkiyat Yahaya shared her frustration with being offline and how it affected her academic life. “It is always painful when I miss out on important updates. Sometimes, the class might not hold, and I am already at school,” she explained. “I am always pressured to stay online. If I am not online, my mind is not at rest.”

Similarly, Ibukunoluwa Abiodun reflected on how missing out on being online led her to miss a class. “I felt terrible about it,” she confessed, underscoring the emotional toll social media dependency can take on students.

Folabunmi Olose also shared a similar sentiment, noting that she constantly feels pressured to remain online to keep up with class updates. “It’s like I have to be online all the time just to stay on top of everything,” she said, emphasising the stress that comes with trying to juggle academic responsibilities and the pressure to stay digitally connected.

The experiences shared by Folabunmi, Ibukunoluwa, and Zukkiyat highlight the significant pressure that students face to stay connected on social media to keep up with class updates. This constant connectivity has an impact not only on their academic performance but also on their mental well-being. The sense of urgency to remain online creates a level of anxiety and stress that many students struggle to manage, and the fear of missing out on important updates can make it difficult to disconnect.

While social media can provide students with valuable opportunities to learn, connect, and grow, it also brings with it challenges that can affect both their academic performance and personal well-being. The balancing act between using social media as a learning tool and avoiding its potential negative effects remains an ongoing issue for students.

Social media is a powerful tool that can offer students opportunities to enhance their academic performance, engage with experts, and stay connected with peers. However, as the experiences shared by students show, the constant pressure to stay online can lead to emotional and psychological strain. As social media continues to shape students’ academic and personal lives, students need to find a balance that allows them to make the most of these platforms without compromising their well-being.

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