Online Social Networking Platforms Among Undergraduate Students of Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State, Nigeria

Abstract

Online social networking sites have changed the way Students interact and communicate. Most students who are members to these online networking sites spend numerous hours on these sites at the expense of study time. This study investigated the use of Online social networking platforms among undergraduate students in Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State, Nigeria. Four research questions were raised and three null hypotheses tested at 0.05 level of significance. A descriptive survey design was adopted. For the purpose of this research work, four schools were randomly selected out of the total number of 8 schools in FUT Minna, from each of the schools, a sample size to collect data for this study were self-administered questionnaires. The study was conducted on 320 respondents out of which 240 respondents were students and 80 lecturers. 230 questionnaires issued to the students were returned, and 74 lecturers were interviewed respectively. Therefore, the study achieved 95% response of the target. The study focused on two respondents i.e. students and the teachers and used questionnaire and interviews as tools of study. The data was collected and analyzed using descriptive statistic of mean and standard deviation (SD) and graphics representations. However, the findings of the study revealed the ways and manner on how students use online social networking sites, the time spent and the kind of information sought. The study also provides recommendations on how online networking can be used in order to improve academic purposes. It was recommended among others that students should be properly trained to acquire basic knowledge on the utilization of online networking sites to promote their learning achievements in most science subjects and in their various courses/programmes.