The Influence of Social Media Usage on Students' Academic Performance and Study Habits

Social media has become one of the most powerful forces shaping student life in the last decade. Platforms like Instagram, YouTube, WhatsApp, Snapchat, and increasingly TikTok and Threads, are now part of the daily routine of almost every college student. While these platforms offer entertainment, communication, and even learning opportunities, they also raise serious questions about how they affect academic performance and study habits. This paper investigates the relationship between social media usage and student outcomes in higher education, focusing on grade performance, time management, attention span, and study behaviour. A mixed-method approach was used, combining a survey of 286 students from various Indian universities with a controlled observation study involving 50 volunteers. The findings show that moderate use of social media for academic purposes can support learning, but excessive recreational use is strongly linked to lower grades, poor sleep, and reduced concentration. The study also found that students who consciously manage their social media time tend to perform better than those who do not. Regression analysis revealed that daily social media hours had a significant negative effect on CGPA, while purposeful academic use showed a small positive effect. The paper concludes that the impact depends less on social media itself and more on how students use it. Universities and parents should focus on building digital self-discipline rather than imposing complete restrictions.