PERCEIVED FUNCTIONAL AND DYSFUNCTIONAL INFLUENCE OF EXPOSURE TO SOCIAL MEDIA AMONG MOUNTAIN TOP UNIVERSITY STUDENTS DURING THE COVID-19 LOCKDOWN

Abstract

This study was based on the Perceive Functional and Dysfunctional Influence of Exposure to Social Media Among Mountain Top University Students During the COVID-19 LOCKDOWN. The aim of this study was to identify the functional (positive) influence and dysfunctional (negative) influence of the exposure to social media among MTU undergraduates, and also figure out the social media platforms responsible for the positive and negative influence on their academic performances since the social media also known as the new media served as a the only means of interaction and exchange of knowledge in the academic sector during the COVID-19lockdown which lasted for the period of six(6) months. In line with the Objectives of this research, the instrument of data collection used was the structured questionnaire, Distributed to a sample size of 310 out of the 1,385students of the school. The data gathered was Thereafter analyzed, presented and interpreted using the descriptive data analysis technique; by Presenting the data in tables. The results gotten from the data analysis showed that majority of the students of the Mountain Top University were negatively influences by the social media platforms, some saw the social media as a great source of information while majority saw it as a great form of distraction. This project therefore recommends that various institutions should fully utilize the social media for their students’ academic performances, and find tenable measures in order to improve the academic performances of their students.