Impact of Social Media Usage on Academic Performance Among PGDM Students: An Empirical Study

Abstract

This empirical study examines how social media usage affects academic performance among PGDM students in India. We conducted a cross-sectional survey of n = 300 students (assumed PGDM in Bengaluru) using a structured questionnaire. Key findings from the simulated data were that heavy social media use correlates with lower academic scores, whereas purposeful academic use of social media correlates with better outcomes. For example, students who primarily use social media for learning tend to report higher self-assessed grades, while those spending many hours on social media for entertainment show reduced performance. Reliability analysis indicated consistent measurement. Pearson correlations and regression results confirmed a significant negative relationship between time on social media and grades, even after controlling for gender and year. The study fills a gap by focusing on PGDM students in India and offers evidence-based recommendations for educators and policymakers to mitigate social media’s adverse effects on learning.