Influence of Social Media on Students’ Study Habits in Secondary Schools in Gombe State

This study examines the influence of social media use on the study habits of secondary school students in Gombe State, North East Nigeria. The rapid proliferation of smartphones and internet connectivity among Nigerian youth has brought social media platforms into the daily routines of secondary school students, raising questions about their effect on academic focus, time management, and study consistency. In Gombe State, concerns have been raised by teachers and school administrators about the impact of social media on homework completion and examination preparation. The study adopts a descriptive survey design and samples 370 senior secondary students from 35 schools across Gombe Central, North, and South senatorial zones. A structured questionnaire is used for data collection, and data are analysed with mean ratings, standard deviation, and chi-square tests. The study draws on the Uses and Gratifications Theory. Findings indicate that students who spend more than four hours daily on social media platforms report weaker study habits, reduced reading frequency, and lower academic performance on internal assessments compared to students with limited social media exposure. Constructive social media use for academic purposes, such as joining subject-specific groups, shows a modest positive correlation with performance. The study recommends the development of digital literacy and time management education programmes for students in Gombe State secondary schools. Keywords: social media, study habits, academic performance, digital literacy, Gombe State.