Usage of Social Media and Its Perceived Impact on the Social Life of the College Students in Kerala

Abstract

Social Media has undoubtedly become a powerful tool among the students. Social Media provides them the freedom to do whatever they want, to find new friends, to interact with people, to share information and knowledge and to create profile or identities. Social networking sites provide students with a new platform for learning but it also has a darker side of which if one is not aware of can bring potential dangers. The youth spent long hours on different social media platforms which has affected their academics, impaired their sleep patterns ,missed out their schools and meals and often produces stress, anxiety and fear about their identities. Students are also entrapped by the ploys of social networking. This happens when it develops an addiction in them that inculcates bad habits. So the students should be educated properly regarding the usage of Social Media and develop the cognitive and intuitive ability to analyze how much they want to spend on the different platforms in Social Media. Most of the studies conducted examine the impact of social networking sites on the academic performance of students. This study focuses on the usage of Social Media and its perceived impact on the social life of students in Kerala.