A meta-analysis of the relationship of academic performance and Social Network Site use among adolescents and young adults

Abstract: This meta-analysis explores the relationship between SNS-use and academic performance. Examination of the literature containing quantitative measurements of both SNS-use and academic performance produced a sample of 28 effects sizes (N = 101,441) for review. Results indicated a significant negative relationship between SNS-use and academic performance. Further moderation analysis points to test type as an important source of variability in the relationship. We found a negative correlation between SNS-use and GPA, while a positive one for SNS-use and language test. Moreover, we found that the relationship of SNS-use and GPA was more strongly negative in females and college students.;Highlights•Meta-analysis on the relationship between SNS use and academic performance.•Found a negative relationship between SNS use and achievement test.•Found a positive relationship between SNS use and literacy test.•Association of SNS use and GPA was only significant among college students.

Keywords: Social network site; SNS; SNS-use; Academic performance; meta-analysis

Liu Dong, Assistant Professor at RUC, Member of NCSRC