New data examines how social media use (and overuse) affects students’ grades.
Most of the time, Facebook use has practically no effect on student GPAs, according to a study from Lockhaven University of Pennsylvania. Out of the 1,800+ students surveyed, 92% admitted to using Facebook and spending an average 106 minutes on the network daily – about six times per day for 24 minutes at a time.
The study found “no strong link” between Facebook use and a drop in GPA. However, for every additional hour and a half spent on the site (over the 106-minute average), GPAs dropped an average of 0.12 points. That doesn’t prove one causes the other, though.
“Students with lower grades could simply use Facebook more, or there could be a third factor that affects both but isn’t studied here,” the study’s authors note.
The way students use Facebook may also affect how they do in the classroom. Students who shared links or checked the site to see what their friends were doing often did better in class. But students posting vague, “Eating ramen again, LOL”-style updates did worse.
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