THE EFFECT OF SOCIAL MEDIA USAGE ON READING AND WRITING HABITS OF STUDENTS

Abstract

This is a study on the effect of social media usage on SHS students reading and writing habits. The analysis of the study is based on responses from students in Kumasi Secondary Technical School. In all (KSTS), responses were obtained from 50 respondents. The study focused on how frequently students registered and logged on to social media platforms, how they communicated and the language used in communicating there. The study again looked at how the virtual mode of communication between students on social media affected their real time mode of communication in the formal setting. By this we wanted to know whether students who are constantly engaged on social media platforms engage in any meaningful learning with each other on social media platforms and how that process affects how they relate to their formal reading and writing patterns. It was made known in the study that the reading and writing patterns and habits of students are not significantly affected by their constant interactions on social media, though the effects thereof are real.