School performance, social networking effects, and learning of school children: Evidence of reciprocal relationships in Abu Dhabi

Abstract This study uses structural equations modeling to test a hypothetical social network model with applications to a sample of 34,896 school children in Abu Dhabi. The main independent constructs in the model are related to children’s attitude with regard to social networking, reasons for using social networks, things done on social networks, and topics used. The dependent constructs cover perceived school performance and social effects of social networking. The study will describe the relations among the various constructs. The effect of other variables, such as parental knowhow, is also investigated. Our work has improved our insight in the social networking model. Results support the idea of reciprocal relations among perceived performance, learning from social networking, and the effect of social networking. Evidence for a model that includes opposite pathways implies that the problem of social networking constructs, its antecedents, and possible consequences should be examined with caution.

[1]  Rebecca M. English,et al.  Facebook © Goes to College: Using Social Networking Tools to Support Students Undertaking Teaching Practicum , 2008 .

[2]  Maya Samaha Rupert,et al.  To excel or not to excel: Strong evidence on the adverse effect of smartphone addiction on academic performance , 2016, Comput. Educ..

[3]  Saba Mehmood,et al.  The Effects of Social Networking Sites on the Academic Performance of Students in College of Applied Sciences, Nizwa, Oman. , 2013 .

[4]  Aaron Smith,et al.  Social Media & Mobile Internet Use among Teens and Young Adults. Millennials. , 2010 .

[5]  Ethan A. Kolek,et al.  Online Disclosure: An Empirical Examination of Undergraduate Facebook Profiles , 2008 .

[6]  Xi Zhang,et al.  Mapping development of social media research through different disciplines: Collaborative learning in management and computer science , 2015, Comput. Hum. Behav..

[7]  Jean Underwood,et al.  When 'friends' collide: Social heterogeneity and user vulnerability on social network sites , 2016, Comput. Hum. Behav..

[8]  Stephanie M. Manasse,et al.  Adolescents' self-presentation on a teen dating web site: a risk-content analysis. , 2010, The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine.

[9]  Jane D. Brown,et al.  Sexual Attitudes and Behaviors Associated With U.S. Early Adolescents’ Exposure to Sexually Explicit Media , 2008 .

[10]  Guang Yang,et al.  School children’s use of digital devices, social media and parental knowledge and involvement – the case of Abu Dhabi , 2017, Education and Information Technologies.

[11]  Stephanie Madden,et al.  The double-edged crisis: Invisible Children’s social media response to the Kony 2012 campaign , 2016 .

[12]  Malin Sveningsson Elm.  Doing and undoing gender in a Swedish Internet community , 2007 .

[13]  Reynol Junco,et al.  Too much face and not enough books: The relationship between multiple indices of Facebook use and academic performance , 2012, Comput. Hum. Behav..

[14]  Valerie Barker,et al.  Older Adolescents' Motivations for Social Network Site Use: The Influence of Gender, Group Identity, and Collective Self-Esteem , 2009, Cyberpsychology Behav. Soc. Netw..

[15]  N. Christakis,et al.  Dynamic spread of happiness in a large social network: longitudinal analysis over 20 years in the Framingham Heart Study , 2008, BMJ : British Medical Journal.

[16]  A. Lenhart,et al.  Social Networking Websites and Teens , 2007 .

[17]  L. Burak.  Multitasking in the University Classroom. , 2012 .

[18]  A. Bandura.  Self-Efficacy: The Exercise of Control , 1997, Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy.

[19]  Liping Deng,et al.  From Moodle to Facebook: Exploring students' motivation and experiences in online communities , 2013, Comput. Educ..

[20]  V. Rideout,et al.  Generation M2: Media in the Lives of 8- to 18-Year-Olds , 2010 .

[21]  Sohail Chand,et al.  Pattern of Facebook usage and its Impact on Academic Performance of University Students: A Gender Based Comparison , 2012 .

[22]  Andra Siibak,et al.  Constructing masculinity on a social networking site , 2010 .

[23]  Patti M. Valkenburg,et al.  Adolescents' comments in social media: Why do adolescents receive negative feedback and who is most at risk? , 2015, Comput. Hum. Behav..

[24]  Carl J. Huberty,et al.  Applied MANOVA and discriminant analysis , 2006 .

[25]  K. Subrahmanyam,et al.  Digital Youth: The Role of Media in Development , 2010 .

[26]  Rosanna E. Guadagno,et al.  Make new friends or keep the old: Gender and personality differences in social networking use , 2012, Comput. Hum. Behav..

[27]  Mizuko Ito,et al.  Hanging Out, Messing Around, and Geeking Out: Kids Living and Learning with New Media , 2009 .

[28]  Andrew J. Flanagin,et al.  Technical code and the social construction of the internet , 2010, New Media Soc..

[29]  Qin Li,et al.  Characteristics and social impact of the use of social media by Chinese Dama , 2017, Telematics Informatics.

[30]  A. Mamun,et al.  The Effect of Social Networking Sites to the Lifestyles of Teachers and Students in Higher Educational Institutions , 2012 .

[31]  Ruti Gafni,et al.  Costs and Benefits of Facebook for Undergraduate Students , 2012 .

[32]  Katherine A. Karl,et al.  Social Networking Profiles: An Examination of Student Attitudes Regarding Use and Appropriateness of Content , 2008, Cyberpsychology Behav. Soc. Netw..

[33]  Regina Deil-Amen,et al.  The Role of Social Media In Community Colleges , 2012 .

[34]  Maya Samaha Rupert,et al.  Associations between screen media parenting practices and children's screen time in Lebanon , 2017, Telematics Informatics.

[35]  Khe Foon Hew,et al.  Students' and teachers' use of Facebook , 2011, Comput. Hum. Behav..

[36]  Elisheva F. Gross,et al.  Adolescent Internet use: What we expect, what teens report , 2004 .

[37]  Elda Tartari,et al.  BENEFITS AND RISKS OF CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS USING SOCIAL MEDIA , 2015 .

[38]  A. Lenhart,et al.  Teens, privacy and online social networks: How teens manage their online identities and personal information in the age of MySpace , 2007 .

[39]  Mohd Shahizan Othman,et al.  The Improvement of Students' Academic Performance by Using Social Media through Collaborative Learning in Malaysian Higher Education , 2014 .

[40]  Matthew R Sanders,et al.  ocial media and gamification : Engaging vulnerable parents n an online evidence-based parenting program , 2016 .

[41]  Mohamed Amin Embi,et al.  The Use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in Teaching ESL Writing Skills , 2013 .

[42]  Justin W. Patchin,et al.  Trends in online social networking: adolescent use of MySpace over time , 2010, New Media Soc..

[43]  M. Limayem,et al.  Impact of Facebook Usage on Students' Academic Achievement: Role of Self-Regulation and Trust. , 2017 .

[44]  Nor Azura Adzharuddin,et al.  The Influence of Social Network Sites (SNS) upon Academic Performance of Malaysian Students , 2014 .

[45]  G. S. O'Keeffe,et al.  The Impact of Social Media on Children, Adolescents, and Families , 2011, Pediatrics.

[46]  R. Klein,et al.  What does the future hold for the NHS at 60? , 2008, BMJ : British Medical Journal.

[47]  Sana Rouis,et al.  Impact of Cognitive Absorption on Facebook on Students' Achievement , 2012, Cyberpsychology Behav. Soc. Netw..

[48]  Gary D. Malaney.  Student Use of the Internet , 2004 .

[49]  Risa Blair,et al.  Integration of Education: Using Social Media Networks to Engage Students , 2014 .

[50]  Reynol Junco,et al.  The relationship between frequency of Facebook use, participation in Facebook activities, and student engagement , 2012, Comput. Educ..

[51]  Clare Wood,et al.  Grammatical understanding, literacy and text messaging in school children and undergraduate students: A concurrent analysis , 2014, Comput. Educ..

[52]  Lisa Powers,et al.  Perspectives on Distance Education and Social Media. , 2012 .

[53]  Sophia Alim,et al.  Impact of social media usage on students academic performance in Saudi Arabia , 2015, Comput. Hum. Behav..

[54]  R. Schumacker,et al.  A beginner's guide to structural equation modeling, 2nd ed. , 2004 .

[55]  Susan C. Herring,et al.  Gender, Communication, and Self-Presentation in Teen Chatrooms Revisited: Have Patterns Changed? , 2011, J. Comput. Mediat. Commun..

[56]  Jomon Aliyas Paul,et al.  Effect of online social networking on student academic performance , 2012, Comput. Hum. Behav..

[57]  D. Boyd.  Why Youth (Heart) Social Network Sites: The Role of Networked Publics in Teenage Social Life , 2007 .

[58]  Michele L. Ybarra,et al.  How Risky Are Social Networking Sites? A Comparison of Places Online Where Youth Sexual Solicitation and Harassment Occurs , 2008, Pediatrics.

[59]  Haggai Kupermintz,et al.  The associations among maternal negative control, children's social information processing patterns, and teachers' perceptions of children's behavior in preschool. , 2016, Journal of experimental child psychology.

[60]  Reynol Junco,et al.  Putting twitter to the test: Assessing outcomes for student collaboration, engagement and success , 2013, Br. J. Educ. Technol..

[61]  Drew Tiene.  Online discussions: a survey of advantages and disadvantages compared to face-to-face discussions , 2000 .

[62]  Nhâm Phong Tuân,et al.  The Impact of Online Social Networking on Students’ Study (VNU Unviversity of Economics and Business) , 2013 .

[63]  Sherrill R. Morris,et al.  Student perspectives on self-directed learning , 2014 .

[64]  Muritala Ishola Akanbi,et al.  Influence of Social Media Usage on Self-Image and Academic Performance among Senior Secondary School Students in Ilorin-West Local Government, Kwara State , 2014 .

[65]  Johnson Yeboah,et al.  The Impact of Whatsapp Messenger Usage on Students Performance in Tertiary Institutions in Ghana , 2014 .

[66]  P. Buckley,et al.  How connected are people with schizophrenia? Cell phone, computer, email, and social media use , 2015, Psychiatry Research.

[67]  Kamil Kopecký,et al.  Children and youth safety on the Internet: Experiences from Czech Republic and Poland , 2016, Telematics Informatics.

[68]  Behrooz Gharleghi,et al.  A Study on the Negative Effects of Social Networking Sites Such as Facebook among Asia Pacific University Scholars in Malaysia , 2014 .

[69]  Ishfaq Ahmed,et al.  A look out for academic impacts of Social networking sites (SNSs): A student based perspective , 2011 .

[70]  Richard G. Lomax,et al.  A Beginner's Guide to Structural Equation Modeling , 2022 .

[71]  P. Greenfield,et al.  Linking social change and developmental change: shifting pathways of human development. , 2009, Developmental psychology.

[72]  Jin Mao,et al.  Social media for learning: A mixed methods study on high school students' technology affordances and perspectives , 2014, Comput. Hum. Behav..

[73]  D. Boyd.  Taken Out of Context: American Teen Sociality in Networked Publics , 2010 .

[74]  Wilson Osafo Apeanti,et al.  Students’ Use of Social Media in Higher Education in Ghana , 2013 .

[75]  Larry D. Rosen,et al.  Media and technology use predicts ill-being among children, preteens and teenagers independent of the negative health impacts of exercise and eating habits , 2014, Comput. Hum. Behav..

[76]  Hua Qian,et al.  Anonymity and Self-Disclosure on Weblogs , 2007, J. Comput. Mediat. Commun..

[77]  A. Siibak.  Constructing the Self through the Photo selection - Visual Impression Management on Social Networking Websites , 2009 .

[78]  R. P. McDonald,et al.  Principles and practice in reporting structural equation analyses. , 2002, Psychological methods.

[79]  June Ahn,et al.  The effect of social network sites on adolescents' social and academic development: Current theories and controversies , 2011, J. Assoc. Inf. Sci. Technol..