Social Media Addiction as Correlates of Academic Procrastination and Achievement among Undergraduates of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Nigeria

Abstract

Youths’ inquisitiveness draws and attracts them to innovations; social media is not different. Among undergraduates, the use of social media as an evolving way of life may have reached addiction level with its consequences. Given this disturbing situation, this study explored compulsive social media use as an encouraging factor in academic procrastination among students with its consequences on students’ academic achievement among undergraduate of Nnamdi Azikiwe University. Using a correlation design which was tested at 0.05 significance, the study evaluated the responses of 965 undergraduate students selected through cluster sampling during their examinations. Social Media Scale (SSMAS) and Academic Procrastination Scale (APS) was used as instrument for data collection.  Academic achievement was measured using the students’ cumulative grade point. Data were analyzed using regression analysis and result revealed that 33.47% of the undergraduate exhibit high levels of academic procrastination, 42.70% exhibit a moderate level of academic procrastination 23.83% exhibit academic procrastination among undergraduate students. The result further indicated that social media addiction predicted both academic procrastination and academic achievement among the undergraduates. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended among others, that students should be channeled into the proper use of social media for academic purposes irrespective of their gender with counseling services to help those with chronic or addictive use.