Title: Use of Social Media for Academic Activities among Students in Institutions of Higher Learning in Lagos State: A Retrospective Perspective of the Pandemic Era
Author(s): Kuburat F. YUSUF & A. A. Maidabino
Publication Year: 2023; Volume 18, Issue 3, pages 30-41

This study examines the use of social media for academic activities among students of higher institutions of learning in Lagos state during the pandemic era. The objectives of the study include to determine level of access to ICT devices, identify the platform used by students for interaction during the pandemic era, determine frequency of usage of such platform, and ascertain the purpose of usage of such platform among others. This empirical study was based on the survey of 238 students of formerly Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH) now Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH) and Lagos State University (LASU). Descriptive statistics was used for the analysis of the data collected. The study revealed that Smartphones, Internet connectivity were adequately accessible to the students. Social media and social networking site like Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp and Instagram were regularly used for deliberations, socialization, information on academic activities, and collaborative learning. There were more positive effects of social media use for leisure entertainment, socialization, academic, collaboration and deliberation. Challenges experienced include instability of the internet, some of the smart phone are expensive, high cost of data subscription among others. Therefore, the paper recommends that government should ensure provision of internet facility has been done in developed countries, stable electricity supply and higher institutions should provide functional counseling unit to continuously sensitize the students on devoid of negative use of social media. This study concluded that, the use of social media and networking sites facilitate creative, dynamic and research-oriented students through collaboration during the pandemic era.