Effect of Social Media on The Academic Performance of Students in College of Nursing Sciences Gombe, North-East Nigeria: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Social media has become a dominant medium of communication across various spheres of life, including institutions of higher learning. It facilitates the sharing of ideas and information, transforming the world into a global village. However, concerns have been raised about its impact on students’ academic performance, particularly at the College of Nursing and Midwifery, Gombe, where students frequently use social media during lectures and clinical sessions, often for non-academic activities such as entertainment and chatting. This study investigates the effect of social media usage on the academic performance of these students. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive survey design was adopted, targeting a population of 560 Nursing and Midwifery students, with a sample size of 85 determined using the Taro Yamane method. A total of 73 willing participants completed a structured Google Form questionnaire. The instrument was pilot-tested for reliability, yielding a Cronbach's alpha index of 0.892. Data analysis involved frequencies, percentages, mean, and standard deviation for descriptive statistics, while hypotheses were tested using T-Test analysis at a 0.05 significance level. Results: The findings revealed that social media usage, particularly on platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp, is not addictive and does not negatively influence academic performance. On the contrary, it enhances learning and positively impacts the academic performance of the majority of students. Conclusion: The study concludes that social networking has a predominantly positive impact on students' academic performance. While social media is used for both socialization and academic purposes, its influence depends on individual perception and upbringing.