Chapter 1

INTRODUCTION

One of the most common activities that people do in todays’ world is the use of

social media. Popular networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and

blogging sites are some of the examples of social media. It had attracted millions of users

because it now more than just a means of seeking information. People have discovered

that the internet can be used to connect with other people for business and commercial

purpose, to make new friends or to reawaken old friends and long lost relatives. As of

2015 the world’s largest social networking company, Facebook, has 1.49 billion active

users, and the number of users is increasing every year. One of the most interesting things

to look at is the increasing number of students’ users on social networking sites. As per

the survey conducted by Pew Research Center, 72% of high school and 78% of college

students spend their time on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and etc. This numbers indicate

how much the student community is involved in this virtual world of social networking.

Social networking is the one of the most active web-based activities in the

Philippines, with Filipinos being declared as the most active users on a number of web-

based social networks such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and Twitter. The use of

social media has become so extensive in the Philippines that the country has been tagged

as “The Social Networking capital of the World”, and has also become part of Filipino

cyber culture (Gudia, 2017). In a 2010 global research by Universal McCann entitled,

“Power to the People-Wave 3”, it has been found out that Philippines was the top among

other countries with 83.1% Filipinos belonging to social networking sites and it was also
the Filipinos who became top users who frequently share photos and videos to their social

media sites. Apparently, the growing numbers of social media users are students or those

Filipinos aged 15 to 24 years old. With these research findings, it is alarming that many

Filipino youths are currently engaging themselves in social media- posting a massive

variety of content, updating statuses, and uploading and sharing of photos and videos.

The effects of these social media can be considered positive but also has some negative

consequences. It increases student collaboration, improves participation, content rich

resources and they are useful for team projects. These sites have also caused some

potential harm to society. The students become victims of social networks more often

than anyone else. This is because when they are studying or searching their course

material online, they get attracted to this sites to kill the boredom in their study time,

diverting their attention from their work. At present, whether social media is favorable or

unfavorable, many students utilize these sites on a daily basis. As social media sites

continue to grow in popularity it is our belief that technology is a vital part of today’s

students’ success equation (Wang, Chen & Liang, 2011). In terms of social media in

different localities increases the growing dimension of the use of social media among the

youth of today. Which provided information on the most popular networks worldwide by

a number of active accounts. Local places has a thousands of active users in Facebook,

Twitter and Instagram which most of them are teenagers and students. They helped many

people feel as if they belong to a certain community and make connections not only on

campus but with friends outside of school. But aside from its benefits to many users there
would be a negative effect in their academic performance of the student especially when

they give almost their time on social media site instead of focusing on their studies.

Statement of the Problem

This study aims to determine the effects of social media use to students’ academic

performance.

Specifically, this study answered the following questions:

1. What is the profile of the participants in terms of:

a. Gender;

b. Year Level;

c. Average Grade?

2. What are the effects of social media on students’ academic performance?

3. Is there a significant relationship between the use of social media and the

academic performance of the students’?

4. Is there any effects of the time spent on social media on students’

academic performance?

Hypotheses

The following hypotheses are generated by the researcher and was tested in the

study:

1. There is no significant relationship between the use of social and the

academic performance students’.

performance.

Theoretical Framework

According to Abraham Maslow’s “Theory of Motivation” that the social need of

human beings is the third most important requirement after our physical and safety needs

– the third tier in his hierarchy of needs. Even our self-esteem comes after this social

dependence. This is the main reason billions of people use social networking to stay

connected, make friends and satisfy their social needs. Hence, based on this theory,

people, specifically the students use social media because humans are social animals.

People cannot live without socializing as said in a quote ‘no man is an island’. Students

feel happy using social media because they can share their everyday activities, post

pictures and videos, and express themselves. The connection they feel when they are

communicating with their friends satisfy their need for socialization. That’s why students

become more inclined to use social media.

Conceptual Framework

This study illustrates the association of the use of social media on students’

academic performance. As De La Cruz (2017), stated some effects of social media on

students like social media wastes’ student’s time, causes distractions, and causes social

and health problems. As figure 1 shows the relationship between dependent and

independent variable whereas, the independent variable is that who influence the
dependent variable and whereas, the dependent variable is researchers aim to understand

and describe.

Independent Variable

Dependent Variable

STUDENTS PROFILE
Gender
Year Level
Average Grade

STUDENTS
ACADEMIC
PERFORMANCE

EFFECTS
Causes Distractions
Social Problems
Health Problems
Wastes Time

Figure 1. The relationship of dependent and independent variable

Scope and Limitations

This study covers 30 students or participants from the academic track students of

Isabela National High School-Senior High School S.Y. 2018-2019. This study limits only

to students who are using social media sites.

research but possibly, the researcher will also request other student or also school

administrators and faculty members to gather some information and will use other

resources to be able to this study to become possible and effective.

Significance of the Study

This study can be a source of information about students who are using social

media sites. This study may be beneficial to the following organization or people:

The Department of Education. This study may be beneficial to the Department

of Education in designing and making a regulation in schools regarding to the use of

social media among students’.

The Faculty Member / The Teachers. This study may be beneficial to them for

this may serve as their basis to teach the students about their limitations and in making a

rule or a regulation about using technologies or social media in school.

The Parents. This study can help the parents in guiding their children about the

use of social media and to help their children to have a good performance in school.

The Students. This study is beneficial to the students that this would enlighten

them and hopefully lead to realization of their own standing in terms of SNS. This study

will give them knowledge and information about the effects of using social media on

their academic performance.

The Researchers. This study has significant implications to provide an idea or

evidences that would solidify the effects of the usage of social networking sites. This
study may be a source for further research regarding the effects of social media use on

students’ academic performance.

Definition of terms

The following terms are defined operationally and conceptually:

Academic Performance means how well a student meets standards set out by the local

government and the institution itself. (Bell, 2018)

In this study it refers to how students deal with their studies and how they cope

with or accomplish different tasks given to them by their teachers.

Internet means a global computer network providing a variety of information and

communication facilities, consisting of interconnected networks using standardized

communication protocols. (Oxford Dictionaries)

In this study it refers to more than just the use of seeking information and can be

used to connect with other people

Social Media means a collective of online communications channels dedicated to

community-based input, interaction, content-sharing and collaboration. (Wigmore, 2016)

In this study it refers to a website that is mostly used by students.

Social Networking Sites means a web-based services that allow individuals to construct

a public or semi-public profile within a bounded system, articulate a list of other users

with whom they share a connection, and view and traverse their list of connections and

those made by others within the system. (Ellison, 2007)

communities of people who share interests and/or activities, or who are interested in

exploring the interests and activities of others.

Student means one who attend school. (Merriam-Webster)

In this study, it means an individual who is studying at Isabela National High

School.