Why students should cut hours on social media — Realnews publisher Chigbo Maureen

Publisher of Realnews Magazine Online Maureen Chigbo has urged students to cut the time they spend on social media.

According to Chigbo, social media addiction can negatively affect academic performance, citing scholarly studies which showed that students who spend up to three hours on social media performed poorly.

Chigbo spoke on July 9 at a symposium organised by the Nigerian Medical Students Association (NiMSA) Preclinical Forum, North Central in collaboration with Bingham University Medical Students Association at the architecture auditorium, Bingham University, Karu, Nasarawa State.

Chigbo, who is also the president of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers, quoted a study done by Bhandakar Ajay et al in 2020 which concluded that social media has a negative impact on academic performance of 21st century undergraduate students.

“As students, you can use social media to share ideas about your lectures, hold discussions and revisions on your class work as your examinations approach, and for other worthwhile engagements, and not just for gossips, sharing pictures, jokes and other irrelevant acts that will not augur well for your academics and career,” she advised.

During the programme, there was a panel session which featured Kardi, former president of the Bingham University Medical Students Association, who is now a medical doctor; Emmanuel Idodoh, the NiMSA vice president, Internal; Collins Ijah, NiMSA fund raiser assistant; and Tsavsar Manaseh, general secretary of the northern caucus.

They discussed issues about the medical school life, surviving the hustle and tussle of medical school and also shared their leadership experiences in NiMSA and beyond.