The Effects of Facebook on the Academic Performance of Grade 11 Students of Bestlink College of the Philippines

Abstract

Facebook can give us an easy way to gain information and comprehend the different trends in our society but it is also attached to some disadvantages that lead to severe addiction, resulting in some difficulties that affect the psychological and emotional behavior of a student such as posting illegal activities, cyberbullying, trashing their teachers, posting objectionable content from school computers or networks, posting confidential information, lying/cheating/plagiarizing, threatening violence, ignoring school-specific policies, being unprofessional, posting public profiles and emotion. The fact is, irresponsible social media conducts potentially ruin educational aspirations and negatively impact career, not to mention hurting others in the process. This research used the descriptive method. It is a method design used to gather information about the present existing condition. The researcher’s aim in employing this method is to describe the nature of the situation as exists at the time of the study and to explore the cause of a particular phenomenon. The respondents of the study are all the students from one section of Grade 11 at Bestlink College of the Philippines during Academic Year 2018-2019. Most of the respondents are female with the age of 15-16 years old. They use varied gadgets such as Cellphone. It was one of the most commonly used in surfing Facebook. The time they spent in social media range to 3 hours and above. Surfing Facebook during class discussion harms a student’s academic performance, and it is one of the reasons students can get a problem in school, health, and family. They spent more time using Facebook instead of doing their responsibilities. Students should be taught proper discipline and manners on how and when to use Facebook. Teachers are encouraged to become more responsible in guiding their students to enable the latter to excellently do their tasks. The school must have rules and regulations that using gadgets in class discussion is prohibited. Students should be encouraged to become more active in school instead of using or wasting their time on Facebook. Parents should be responsible for guiding their children in the proper use of social media.