INFLUENCE OF SOCIAL MEDIA USE ON LIFESTYLE OF UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS IN MICHAEL OKPARA UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE, UMUDIKE, ABIA STATE

Abstract

Social media use has become an integral part of students’ daily lives, influencing communication, learning, and behavioural choices among young people. This study investigated the influence of social media use on the lifestyle of undergraduate students at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, with specific attention to how digital interaction shapes youth behaviour and learning attitudes. A descriptive survey design was adopted, and data were collected using a structured questionnaire titled “Influence of Social Media Use on Lifestyle of Undergraduate Students” (ISMULUSM-Q). The instrument was validated by threes experts in Home Economics and its reliability was stabilised through a pilot test administered to 20 undergraduates in Abia State University, yielding a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient greater than 0.75 across all sections, indicating acceptable internal consistency. A sample of 180 respondents was selected through multistage sampling across six colleges in the University. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and independent samples t-tests at a 0.05 significance level, with Cohen’s d used to determine effect size. Findings revealed that WhatsApp (97.4%), Facebook (96.3%) were the most utilized platforms. Social media was found to significantly influence reading habits, dressing patterns, truancy, and personality development among undergraduates. While truancy behaviours and personality showed no significant gender variation, a significant gender difference was observed in reading habits (t = –1.98, p = .049) and dressing patterns (t = 5.01, p< 0.001), where females were more influenced by social media in their appearance and fashion choices than males. The study concludes that social media exerts both constructive and disruptive influences on student lifestyles, particularly in shaping youth behaviour and self-expression. Based on the findings, the study recommends, among others, that there is a need for digital literacy education, counselling support, and family guidance to foster responsible and value-driven use of technology for academic and personal development.