Abstract:
This study sought to assess the role of social media in improving academic performance, A
case study of Mawenzi, Moshi Technical and Majengo secondary schools. In this study, Social
information processing theory, Social Network Theory and Social learning theory and the web
were adopted. This study used descriptive research design and both qualitative and
quantitative approaches were adopted. The population of this study consists of students of
secondary schools. This study employed simple random sampling. Also, this study used both
primary and secondary data. Quantitative data collected through questionnaire was analysed
using both inferential and descriptive statistics. Qualitative data was analysed using content
analysis. Cronbach alpha was used to measure reliability while validity was measured by
using Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO). Findings indicated that Social Media Platforms have positive
and significant relationship with academic performance. The findings showed that, time spent
had negative but significant relationship with academic performance. Also, the nature of
academic use of the social media found to have a positive and significant relationship with
academic performance. To gain more understanding into this subject, studies that are more
comprehensive could be conducted in different secondary schools located in rural and urban
areas in Tanzania to see the situation of the academic performance of students
