Research Title:

IMPACTS OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AND PHYSICAL

HEALTH OF THE STEM STUDENTS IN MAGSAYSAY MEMORIAL
COLLEGE OF ZAMBALES, INCORPORATED

Rationale of the Study

Social media is an internet-based form of communication. Social media platforms allow

users to have conversations, share information and create web content. There are many forms of
social media including blogs, micro-blogs, wikis, social networking sites, photo sharing sites,
instant messaging, video-sharing sites, podcasts, widgets, virtual worlds and more (Introduction
to Social Media, 2022). Most users access social media services through web-based apps on
desktops or download services that offer social media to their mobile devices (Social Media,
2022). People use social media to connect to other people who are far from them because of the
evolution of social media, which connects people from all over the internet. And students, which
is really affected the most because it is what they usually use.

Social media access and usage grown rapidly in the past several years. Social media is a
new pedagogical tool that may be used to engage students both inside and outside their schools
and impact their success (Al-Bahrani, Patel & Sheridan, 2015). As we know, social media may
have different impacts and effects to its users. But in this case, this research is to examine its
effects to students.

As we know, nothing interesting is ever completely one-sided as it comes with both

positive and negative effects. There is a correlation between social media usage and academic
performance of students. Social networks have may advantages in learning as they provide wide
access to information and information resources, reduce barriers to group interaction and
telecommunications. It helps students to gain more knowledge by exploring, reading, and
gathering more information which is why some students are really doing well on their academic
performance. There have been various views and opinions which recognize four major
advantages of social media use in higher education (Wheeler, A., Yeomans & Wheeler, D.,
2008).
 The usage of social media among students has been associated with biological and
psychological signs of poor physical health. “Social media use has become an integral part of
many young adults’ daily lives. It is critical that we understand how engagement across these
platforms contributes to physical health.” (Gambini, 2022). The C-reactive protein (CRP), a
biological marker of chronic inflammation that predicts major illnesses like diabetes, several
malignancies, and cardiovascular disease, was shown to be higher in study participants who used
social media extensively. Results indicate that increased social media use was associated with
somatic symptoms such headaches, chest pain, and back pain as well as more frequent visits to
doctors and health facilities for sickness treatment in addition to higher CRP levels.

The researcher studied the impacts of social media on academic performance and
physical health of the Stem Students of Magsaysay Memorial College of Zambales,
Incorporated. This study served as basis how social media affect students’ learning and to their
physical health.