The Effects of Social Media On High School Students’ Study Program: The Case of Ayer Tena High School Addis Ababa

Simple item page
dc.contributor.advisorTenaw Terefe Asst. Prof
dc.contributor.authorGetachew Melaku
dc.date.accessioned2025-08-06T07:55:27Z
dc.date.available2025-08-06T07:55:27Z
dc.date.issued2025-04-23
dc.description.abstractThis study examined the effects of social media on high school students' study program, focusing on grade 12 students at Ayer Tena Secondary School in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The main objective of this study was to assess effects of social media on the students and their parents and teachers` prevention practices of the adverse effects. Employing a mixed-methods approach, the research`s data gathering was through questionnaires from 303 sample students out of 1100 and focus group discussions comprising students, teachers, and parents. The research findings showed that almost all of the respondents used social media in different levels of time. It reveals that most students spend an average of 2: 55 hours per day on social media. Nearly half of them used social media for all purposes. Only less than quarter of the students used mainly for academic purposes and a few students used it for business. Regardless of recognizing its possible academic value, students lack organized plans or digital literacy skills to influence social media effectively for learning. TikTok, Instagram, Telegram, YouTube and Facebook are mostly used social media platforms. Top platform for academic use was YouTube. Most of the students used mobile phones. The survey showed majority of parents new as their children were using social media. A little more than half of the parents knew the purpose of the students` usage. About half of the students` parents, some always and majority of them sometimes, follow and control the students` social media usage. Some parents use restriction as a controlling mechanism by avoiding access to smart phones. Commonly reflected idea was as there should be controlled and guided usage of social media. On its advantages, the highest percent of the students viewed as social media is important for sharing academic material, improves English language skills and supported its role in communication and relationships. Similarly On its disadvantages, the highest percent of the students viewed as social media negatively affect sleep, affects family communication and harms academic performance. Some of their teachers tried to guide the students informally and in private. Although social media gives educational benefits, they are underutilized. Furthermore, the research revealed a lack of structured checking and supervision by both parents and educators. The paper calls for strategic interferences by schools, families, and policymakers to exploit the educational value of social media while reducing its adverse consequences. It stresses totally restriction is not a feasible solution in the digital era. Instead, coordinated exertions are recommended: mixing digital literacy into the school curriculum, and training parents and educators with strategies to guide youths rationally in the digital landscape.
dc.identifier.urihttps://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/123456789/6081
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherAddis Ababa University
dc.subjectSocial media
dc.titleThe Effects of Social Media On High School Students’ Study Program: The Case of Ayer Tena High School Addis Ababa
dc.typeThesis

Files

Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
New After defense final corrected GM MA Thesis.pdf
Size:
2.28 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Download
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
license.txt
Size:
1.71 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed to upon submission
Description:
Download

Collections

Journalism and Communication