CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

  The world is today celebrating the improvements in communication which has broadened its scope through Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). Modern Technology in communication no doubt has turned the entire world into a “Global village”. But as it is, technology like two sides of a coin, brings with it both negative and positive sides. It helps people to be better informed, enlightened, and keeping abreast with world developments. Technology exposes mankind to a better way of doing things. Social networking sites include: Twitter, Yahoo Messenger, Facebook Messenger, Blackberry Messenger (BBM), Whats app messenger, 2go messenger, Skype, Google talk, Google Messenger, iPhone and Androids. These networking sites are used by most people to interact with old and new friends, physical or internet friends ( Asemah and Edegoh, 2012). The world has been changed rapidly by the evolution of technology; this has resulted into the use of technology as the best medium to explore the wide area of knowledge. 

The evolution of internet technology has led to its use as the best medium for communication. Whereby, two-third of the world’s internet population visits social networking or blogging sites, thus serving as a communication and connection tool. Social networking sites (SNSs) are online  Communities of Internet users who want to communicate with other users about areas of mutual interest, whether from a personal, business or academic perspective (William ,Boyd, Densten, Chin, Diamond & Morgenthaler 2009). The millions of social networking sites have transformed the thought of global village into a reality whereby billions of people communicate through social networking sites. Numerous benefits have been obtained through distant communication through the use of social networking sites.  Development of entrepreneurial skills

Academic excellence or achievement plays an important role in an individual placement, be it in the academic institutions or job placement. Due to this, many people are concerned with the ways they can enhance their academic achievement. The emphasis on academic excellence which is also prevalent worldwide has encouraged many studies about the conditions promoting it. The role of academic achievement as one of the predictors of one’s life success and also in the aspect of academic placement in schools to higher institutions as well as the level of employability in one’s career is inevitable (Kyoshaba, 2009). 

Academic performance, which is measured by the examination results, is one of the major goals of a school. Hoyle (1986) argued that schools are established with the aim of imparting knowledge and skills to those who go through them and behind all this is the idea of enhancing good academic performance.

Academic performance or achievement is the outcome of education, the extent to which a student, teacher or institution has achieved their educational goals. Academic performance is commonly measured by examinations or continuous assessment but there is no general agreement on how it is best tested or which aspects are most important, procedural knowledge such as skills or declarative knowledge such as facts (Annie, Howard &Mildred, 1996).

Today most youths and students possess Facebook accounts. The reason most of them perform badly in school might not be far- fetched. While many minds might be quick to blame the poor quality of teachers, they might have to think even harder, if they have not heard of the Facebook frenzy (Oche and Aminu, .2010). Olubiyi (2012) noted that these days’ students are so engrossed in the social media that they are almost 24 hours online. Even in classrooms and lecture theatres, it has been observed that some students are always busy pinging, 2going or Facebooking, while lectures are on. Times that ought be channeled towards learning, academic research and innovating have been crushed by the passion for meeting new friends online, and most times busy discussing trivial issues. Hence most students’ academics suffer setback as a result of distraction from the social media. In Obi, Bulus, Adamu and Sala’at (2012), observed that the use of these sites also affects students’ use of English and grammar. The students are used to short forms of writing words in their chat rooms; they forget and use the same in the classrooms. They  use things like 4 in place of ‘for’, U in place of ‘You’, D in place of ‘The’ etc. and this could affect their class assessment. 

1.2 Statement of the Problem

The world today is a global market in which the internet is the most important sort of information. Since the advent of social media sites in the 1990s, it is assumed in some quarters that the academic performance of students is facing a lot of neglect and challenges. The educational system in Nigeria is faced with so many challenges which have certainly brought about a rapidly decline in the quality of education. There is a deviation, distraction and divided attention between internet activities and their academic work. It is observed that students devote more attention to internet than they do to their studies. 

In recent times social media have been a major stay in the minds of students and the world at large thereby causing a lot of drastic measure by students, teacher and even educational administrators at large. It is therefore of great importance to explore some of the trending issues facing students’ academic performance as a result of internet. Students at all levels of learning now have divided attention to studies, as a result of available opportunities to be harnessed from internet. Whether these opportunities promote studies is a question that needs to be answered. Thus, the problem this study investigates is the influence of internet on the academic performance of the Edwin Clark University, Delta State.

1.3 Purpose of the Study

Specifically, the study seeks;

1. To examine the level of students addictiveness to internets and the influence on their academic performance in Edwin Clark University.
2. To examine the sources of internet use among Edwin Clark University
3. To examine the effect of internet use on academic performance of use among Edwin Clark University
4. To ascertain how gender has influence on students’ usage of internet in Edwin Clark.

1.4 Significance of the Study

This study is significant to the teachers, parents and students. This study will help the teachers of the school to know the influence that social media has on their students, so as to assist them to enlighten and create awareness to the students on the possible influence it has on them. The study is of significant to parents in the sense that they will know the possible effects these social media usage has on their children, so as to serve as watch-dog to their children on the usage of the social networking site. 

The study will enable the University Students so that they will be aware that, apart from the social benefits of this social networking site, using the sites more than necessary will pose possible dangers to their health. It will be relevant in assisting students in understanding the diversity of internet. It will provide relevance material for students and other researchers undertaking similar research. The study will help researchers with more information on the Influence of social media on student’s academic performance.

1.5 Research Questions

The following research questions were raised;

1. What is the level of students addictiveness to internets and the influence on their academic performance in Edwin Clark University.
2. To identify the sources of internet use among Edwin Clark University
3. To examine the effect of internet use on academic performance of use among Edwin Clark University
4. To ascertain how gender has influence on students’ usage of internet in Edwin Clark.
   1. There is no significant level of students addictiveness to internets and the influence on their academic performance in Edwin Clark University.
   2. There is no significant effect of the sources of internet use among Edwin Clark University.
   3. There is no significant effect of internet use on academic performance of use among Edwin Clark University
   4. There is no significant effect of gender has influence on students’ usage of internet in Edwin Clark.

1.6 Hypotheses

1.7 Scope of the Study

The focus of this research work is to primarily study the of internet on Edwin Clark University Students Academic Performance