Utilization of Social Media During Covid-19 Pandemic Among University Students in Nigeria

Abstract

The increasing use of social media during the COVID-19 pandemic has emerged among university students for academic activities. This paper reviews the use of social media as a learning tool among the students. The study employed a survey research design. The population for the study comprised all undergraduate students in Oyo State, Nigeria. A sample size of 450 was purposively selected from the three universities, but only 153 online survey responses were valid for the data analysis. A set of online survey Google forms was used to explore how undergraduate students learn during this pandemic. Two research questions and four hypotheses were raised. Descriptive statistics of frequency counts, mean and standard deviation were used in analysing demographic variables and research questions, while the Pearson Correlation Matrix and Analysis of Variance were used to test the four hypotheses at a 0.05 level of significance. The research findings indicated that students frequently used social media at their own pace but not effectively in their academic activities. The study reveals that students were ready for the new change to eLearning and virtual learning, but lecturers had been on strike before the total lockdown in March 2020 in Nigeria. Researchers recommended that academic staff encourage social media platforms to blend teaching and learning tools during this period for students. Also, Nigerian government should make available infrastructure for Information Communication Tools facilities for both staff and students to support virtual teaching and learning during and beyond COVID-19 to improve and enhance traditional learners' academic performance and avoid setbacks in their academic performance during this pandemic's challenges.