Perceived Impact of Social Media Usage on Academic Performance And Psychosocial Well-Being of Students: A Survey-Based Analysis

Social media has become an integral part of student life, influencing students’ communication habits, their approach to learning, their shopping habits, and their leisure time. This paper reports a questionnaire-based survey of 83 school, college and university students from Sirsa District, Haryana, selected through convenience sampling, which examined the extent and nature of social media use and its perceived effect on academic performance and psychosocial well-being. The survey covered questions about demographics, platform preferences, the reasons for using the platform, the impact it has on focus and schoolwork, self-confidence, sleep, experiencing cyberbullying, shopping habits, and dependency symptoms. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics only; no inferential statistical analysis was performed, so the findings describe the sampled respondents and cannot be generalised. Instagram (60.2%) and Snapchat (26.5%) were the most used platforms. The majority of respondents (85.5%) reported that social media affected their concentration while studying, and 89.2% used social media for learning regularly or sometimes, mainly through YouTube and ResearchGate. In addition, 56.6% students reported a positive effect on self-confidence, 25.3% reported experiencing cyberbullying or harassment and 44.6% said social media influenced their buying behaviour or lifestyle. About 70% (58 of 83) felt that students should limit social media use, particularly during examinations. The findings suggest that social media has a dual role in students’ lives: it is a useful educational resource, while excessive use may cause some distraction and sleep disturbance. The paper explores and discusses these findings in relation to the existing literature and provides recommendations for balanced and purposeful social media use among students.