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Plant Science Today (PST)

Research Articles

Vol. 12 No. sp3 (2025): Advances in Plant Health Improvement for Sustainable Agriculture

Impact of social media on academic activities of agricultural students

DOI
https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.10373
Submitted
30 June 2025
Published
16-12-2025

Abstract

The study analysed social media usage among 120 students, with data collected through questionnaires and analyzed using percentages. Most respondents were girls, with 78 % attending private schools and 93 % residing in hostels. A rural background was reported by 53 % of the respondents. Regarding career preferences, 75 % aimed for government jobs, 19.16 % chose business and only 3.33 % opted for a scientist career path. A majority (61 %) were regular social media users, favouring platforms such WhatsApp, YouTube and Instagram, while Facebook, Snapchat and Twitter were less popular. Social media was used by 60 % for academic purposes, though 67 % believed it did not improve their academic performance. Agriculture-related websites were accessed by 81 % of students, with Agritech Portal (58 %) and Uzhavan App (17 %) being the most used, while others like Agrimoon, Meghdoot and FAO were less accessed. Social media increased awareness of agriculture-related jobs for 93 % of respondents and 53 % felt it influenced their career choices. A majority (59 %) agreed that globalization of communication supports job acquisition and 48 % believed social media offers opportunities for better careers. Challenges included distractions (41 %) and exposure to cyberbullying (10 %), though 53.33 % reported no psychological impact. However, 21.67 % noted negative psychological effects. To address these issues, 78 % suggested self-control, 93 % recommended time management and 44 % pointed to extracurricular activities. Key problems identified were addiction, distraction, overthinking and health-related issues. Students emphasized self-discipline and time management as solutions to these challenges. The findings indicate that while social media facilitated career awareness and academic engagement, its potential to distract from studies and cause psychological effects highlighted the importance of balanced usage and proper time management.

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