Use of Social Media for Academic Purposes Among Undergraduate Students of the University of Maiduguri, North East Nigeria

This study investigates the extent to which undergraduate students at the University of Maiduguri, North East Nigeria, use social media platforms for academic purposes. The proliferation of smartphones and affordable mobile data has positioned social media as a potentially powerful informal learning environment. However, concerns persist about whether students use these platforms productively or primarily for entertainment. A descriptive survey design was adopted, and a sample of 280 undergraduate students across five faculties was selected using stratified random sampling. A 30-item structured questionnaire measured frequency of academic use, types of platforms accessed, and perceived academic benefits. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were used for data analysis. Results indicate that WhatsApp is the most frequently used platform for academic activities, followed by YouTube and Telegram. Students primarily use social media to share course materials and receive peer tutoring. However, only 38 percent of respondents reported that social media use improved their academic performance. Distractions, misinformation, and data cost constraints were identified as significant challenges. The study recommends that lecturers develop structured guidelines for academic social media use and that the university establish official academic channels on popular platforms. Keywords: social media, academic use, undergraduate students, University of Maiduguri, informal learning