Benefits and Challenges of Social Media Usage among Youth in Higher Learning Institutions: A Case of the Mwalimu Nyerere Memorial Academy

Abstract

This paper looks into the benefits and drawbacks of social media usage among students in higher education. The study intends to learn about the advantages and disadvantages the youth face when using social media. Students were chosen at random from the Mwalimu Nyerere Memorial Academy (MNMA) Karume Campus, Zanzibar for the study. Administrative and academic staffs, as well as student leaders, were key informants. A questionnaire and an interview guide were used to collect data. The Chi-square test was used to analyse the quantitative data (P 0.05). Communication, business, and academic themes emerged from qualitative data on social media use. The findings showed that the majority of students owned mobile phones with internet connectivity and were familiar with social media sites. Students at the Karume Campus use mobile phones to access social media sites for one to five hours per day, resulting in lost time. Social media use among students in higher education institutions has both positive and negative consequences, which include moral decay, wastage of time, unplanned financial expenditure and addiction. Searching for academic resources, health-related information, communication, and business transactions are all benefits of using social media among the youth. The study recommends that students who use mobile phones should spend time searching for academic materials or engaging in social communication with discipline. The MNMA administration, through the Dean of Students Office, should counsel students on the importance of using social media responsibly.