Exploring The Influence of Social Network Sites on Students' Academic Achievement: The Moderating Effect of Social Support

Abstract

The widespread use of social networking sites SNS among university students has raised deep concerns about their impact on the academic performance of the students. This study examines the relationship between SNS usage, academic performance and social support among university students. A quantitative research approach was employed in a self-report questionnaire with data collected from 200 University students in Mardan Pakistan. The results showed a positive correlation between SNS usage and academic performance as well as between social support and academic performance. Regression analysis reveals that SNS usage is a significant predictor of academic performance. Mediation analysis showed that social support mediates the link in between the SNS usage and academic performance. The study reveals that the impact of social networking sites usage on academic performance is dual edged varying according to the manner of usage. The study's results have highlighted important areas of concern for many stakeholders like educator policymakers and researchers highlighting the need to consider the role of social media and academic settings in developing strategies that promote responsible social media use among students.