NEGATIVE INFLUENCE OF SOCIAL WEBSITES ON STUDENTS’ EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT: THE CASE OF HARSHIN SECONDARY AND PREPARATORY SCHOOL, JIGJIGA ZONE, SOMALI REGIONAL STATE

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the negative influence of social websites on students’ educational achievement in Harshin secondary and preparatory school. The study used four basic tools to achieve its objectives. These are questionnaire, focus group discussion, in-depth interview and non-participant observation. The study employed descriptive research with both quantitative and qualitative research analysis methods. According to the research findings, excessive use of social websites exposed Harshin secondary and preparatory school students to low educational achievement. The access of modern mobile phone technology, the contents of the SWs, users’ unlimited freedom in SWS and the access of individual personal desire accordingly their interest made grew students’ linkage with the social websites. The students linkage with the social websites was checked in relation to the amount of time they used, the time they preferred to open their social website and personal traits they showed when they were unable to open their SWs for a long time further to the young’s criteria of identifying SWs addiction. The researcher realized that a student has established strong linkage with the social websites. Consequently, students’ time and habit to read, their concentration on their education, and their interest in education were negatively affected, which in turn affected their overall results.