EFFECTS OF SOCIAL MEDIA - WhatsApp ON THE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF STUDENTS IN THE FEDERAL UNIVERSITY DUTSE, DUTSE, NIGERIA

The social media is an indispensable tool in the communication and learning process. The fact that they facilitate knowledge acquisition qualifies them as learning scaffolds. Learning scaffold as established by self-regulated theory are platforms that facilitate learning. Therefore, considering WhatsApp as a scaffold, this study examined the effect of social media-communications on academic performance of students, using Federal University Dutse, Dutse, Nigeria as a case study. The research was cross-sectional and engaged multi-stage sampling. First, quota sampling was used to sample fifty students’ quota per faculty. thereafter 250 respondents were randomly selected from five faculties in the University. Study results revealed that WhatsApp was effective, easy to use and satisfactory for communication. The “Forethought phase” of self-regulated learning was identified as a key determinant of self-regulated learning on WhatsApp groups. The Implication is that WhatsApp platforms can be used to facilitate learning activities provided students are regulated, guided and rightly motivated.