AN EVALUATION OF THE INFLUENCE OF FACEBOOK ON THE LIFESTYLE OF THE STUDENTS OF AMBROSE ALLI UNIVERSITY

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

The use of social media is already widespread in all situations, but until targeted study efforts, like this one, are undertaken to highlight them, many consequences of the specific usage of social media in the lives of particular sets of users may not be sufficiently obvious. According to Cabral (2021) more flexibility to use social media whenever and whenever one wishes is projected as a result of ongoing advancements in information and communication technologies and expanding opportunities for ubiquitous internet connectivity. Concerning freedom, Nielsen (2022) notes that social media—which includes sites like Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, Iiktok, Twitter, and other, keeps changing how people obtain, create, share, and utilise information. Given the potential for increased flexibility (i.e., connectivity and access) in terms of online networking at any time and anyplace, it is reasonable to assume that social media use will continue to be a common occurrence in people's daily lives. 

One such demographic with a high percentage of social media users is students. For instance, a study on social media use at the University of New Hampshire in the United States of America, which involved a sample of students from every institution, revealed that 96% (1,082) of the students polled were frequent users of Facebook (Martin et al 2019). The consequences of students' extensive usage of social media in their lives are no more noteworthy than the students' general use of it. Researchers today must investigate these implications (i.e., in social contexts other than the United States of America) in order to comprehend how social media use affects learning, either positively or negatively. It has been established that using social media can improve teamwork, communication, and have the capacity to support and promote learning (Junco, 2021). According to Hussain (2022), social media seems to have a bigger influence on college students than on students at lower educational levels.

Apparently, facebook is a free messenger application that works on various platforms like desktop, iPhone, Android phones, and any form of online connectivity and this app is widely used among students to send multimedia messages like photos, videos, audio along with short messages (Henry et al., 2019). Facebook is possibly the most popular among the social networks for personal and educational purposes (Mayisela, 2018). LiveScience asked a sample of students to abstain from all social media use for a day in order to gauge the degree of attachment that students had to the platform. According to the study, college students were so dependent on social media that they would display withdrawal symptoms similar to those experienced by substance addicts when their drug of choice was taken away from them (LiveScience.com, 2020). 

Comparable studies conducted by the International Centre for Media and Public Agenda (ICMPA) at the University of Maryland in the United States of America revealed that the majority of college students were not only unable to function without their social media connections to the outside world, but also reluctance (ICMPA, 2020). Beyond that, Junco (2021), highlighting the detrimental effects of social media, suggested that users who engage in compulsive online communication—which, as stated, included excessive use of social media—may experience subtle consequences. Therefore, a survey will be conducted in order to evaluate the influence of facebook on the lifestyle of the students of Ambrose Alli University.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

In recent times, many people use Facebook these days to stay in touch with friends and family who live all over the world (Brydolf, 2019). Additionally, university students have become interested in Facebook platforms due to its rapid growth; they become so absorbed in the sites that they nearly forget about their academic work. Because social networking sites have a detrimental effect on their lifestyles, university students are more than any other group of people deemed victims of these sites (Pasek & Hargittai, 2019).Students who are looking for studying resources online often find themselves lured to use the many social media sites. Typically, students wind up wasting nearly all of their time on social media and neglect the course materials they set out to find. Facebooking has typically become one of the bad habits that interfere with students' study time, interfering with tasks like going to the library or reading notes and study guides. According to Briggs (2019), extensive use of social media platforms like Facebook, particularly for viewing friends' photos, has been found to potentially contribute to students developing feelings of insecurity. As students are increasingly exposed to "selfies" and other photographs on social media, their tendency to compare oneself unfavourably also increases. However, Alloway et al. (2022) in a survey of college students assessed the relationship between Facebook use and academic achievement. It used the weekly amount of time spent studying and the grade point average (GPA) as variables. According to the survey, students who abstained from using Facebook had higher grade point averages than those who did. The study's focus on the Facebook users' poor time management as the reason for their subpar academic achievement is an intriguing aspect of it. A larger but comparable investigation was conducted by Junco (2021) and Kirschner and Karpinski (2020). According to the study, using Facebook for extended periods of time is necessary before its effects on grade point average become apparent. The study also showed that before drawing conclusions about Facebook's impact on academic achievement, other factors (such as the kinds of activities engaged in, individual motivation and accountability, and academic values) could be taken into account.  

While Junco (2021) did not go into great detail about the problem of Facebook addiction, two studies that examined Facebook addiction (that is, use of Facebook outside of the United States of America) revealed that some students in Malaysia, an Asian country where Internet penetration could be considered to have started much later than in the United States of America, have become compulsive Facebook users (Zaremohzzabich et al., 2018).According to a previous study, students who responded to the poll felt that in order to avoid the problems of being driven to check Facebook, using it frequently, and using it as an excuse to avoid doing their homework offline, they needed to use Facebook less. The researchers came to the conclusion that 220 (47%), out of the 450 university students they assessed, might be classified as Facebook addicts. These all demonstrate the tendency of the negative consequences that excessive Facebook use might have on Facebook users'lifestyle. Hence, it is in the light of these that the study seeks to evaluate the influence of facebook on the lifestyle of the students of Ambrose Alli University.

1.3  Objectives of the Study

The main purpose of this study is to evaluate the influence of Facebook on the lifestyle of the students of Ambrose Alli University.Specifically, the study will;

1.Assess the level of Facebook usage among students of Ambrose Alli University.

2.Assess the extent Facebook influences students' social behavior.

3.Investigate the role of Facebook in shaping students' lifestyle choices.

4.Evaluate the impact of Facebook on students' study habits.

1.4 Research Questions

The following questions have been prepared for the study:

What is the level of Facebook usage among students of Ambrose Alli University?

To what extent does Facebook influence students' social behavior?

What role does Facebook play in shaping students' lifestyle choices?

What is the impact of Facebook on students' study habits?

1.5  Research Hypotheses

H0: Facebook has no significant influence on the lifestyle of the students of Ambrose Alli University.

Ha: Facebook has a significant influence on the lifestyle of the students of Ambrose Alli University.

1.6  Significance of the Study

Parents will receive helpful knowledge from this study regarding the impact of Facebook use on their children's day-to-day activities. However, parents will be able to set reasonable limits and promote positive online behaviour while helping their children use social media. Furthermore, students will learn more about the effects that their online activities have on their mental health, academic performance, and social interactions.Additionally, subsequent researchers will use it as a literature review. This means that other students who may decide to conduct studies in this area will have the opportunity to use this study as available literature that can be subjected to critical review. Invariably, the result of the study contributes immensely to the body of academic knowledge with regard the influence of facebook on the lifestyle of the students of Ambrose Alli University.

1.7 Scope of the study

The scope of this study is boarded on the influence of facebook on the lifestyle of the students of Ambrose Alli University. Empirically, this study will assess the level of Facebook usage among students, assess the extent Facebook influences students' social behavior, investigate the role of Facebook in shaping students' lifestyle choices and evaluate the impact of Facebook on students' study habits.

Geographically, the study will be delimited to undergraduate students of Ambrose Alli University.

1.8 Limitation of the study

In the course of carrying out this study, the researcher experienced some constraints, which included time constraints, financial constraints, language barriers, and the attitude of the respondents. In addition, there was the element of researcher bias. Here, the researcher possessed some biases that may have been reflected in the way the data was collected, the type of people interviewed or sampled, and how the data gathered was interpreted thereafter. The potential for all this to influence the findings and conclusions could not be downplayed. 

More so, the findings of this study are limited to the sample population in the study area, hence they may not be suitable for use in comparison to other schools, local governments, states, and other countries in the world.

 1.9 Definition of Terms

Facebook: a social media platform operated by Meta Platforms, Inc., that allows users to create profiles, connect with friends, share photos and videos, post updates, join groups, and engage with content through likes, comments, and shares.

Lifestyle: the way in which an individual or group lives, encompassing daily habits, activities, interests, values, and behaviors.