INTRODUCTION

Educational Technology plays a very important role in the lives of human

beings. The present era is known as the age of science and technology. Man
comes in contact with technology in each and every moment of his life starting
from simple household cooking work to operate a missile. Education is
considered as an indispensible part of human life. So the whole system of
education has also been greatly influenced by technology. In ancient days
when technology in education was not introduced the teachers or the Gurus
used to transmit knowledge only through spoken words. But now a days a
number of techniques like computer, television, projector, mobile phones etc.
have been developed in order to make education interesting, effective and
purposeful.

The primary purpose of SNS can be for Online learning and can be used most
effectively in distance education (Brady et al., 2010). SNS can function its
purpose in doctoral students academic network (Tauginienė & Kalinauskaitė,
2018), communication with a colleague (Ramprathap et al., 2016) (Gok, 2016)
(Kyei-Blankson et al., 2016, sharing information (Ramprathap et al., 2016),
information seeking and for sharing academic and educational news (Guraya,
2016), (Gok, 2016), reading the newspaper (Lewis, 2008) (Gok, 2016), watching
movies (Deepthy & Shalini, 2019), (Eke et al., 2014), leisure is escalating 36%
23% 34% 7% 2-4hrs 5-6hrs Less than 2hrs More than 6hrs (Guraya et al., 2019)
(Filippaios & Benson, 2018)., To gain new skills (Filippaios & Benson, 2018)
entrepreneurial spaces (Filippaios & Benson, 2018). As much as there is a
significant advantage of SNS, there exist negative impacts as well.

A new approach of communication called Social Media has emerged during last
few decades. Social media has become a growing phenomenon with many and
varied definitions in public and academic use. Social media refers to the media
used to enable social interaction among people. It refers to web-based and
mobile applications that allow individuals and organizations to create, engage
and share new user generated or existing content, in digital environment
through multi way communications. The media like Facebook, Whatsapp,
Twitter, Myspace, Instagram, Linkedin, Naukri.com, Sodhganga, e-pathshala,
examrace.net etc. are known as social media or social networking sites.

Although social media is a new concept, its history goes back to the very old
age. The earliest method of communicating across great distance was the
activity of hand to hand delivery or in other words letter. The earlier form of
postal service dates back to 550 B.C; whereas the telegraph was introduced in
1792. Besides this two important discoveries happened in the last two decades
of 1800 i.e. the telephone in 1890 and the Radio in 1891. Technology began to
change very rapidly in the 20th century. After fist super computer was created
in 1940s, scientist and engineers began to develop ways to create networks
between those computers and this gave birth to the internet. The earliest
forms of internet such as computers were developed in the 1980s. By the
1980s home computers became more common and social media became more
sophisticated. Internet relay chats, or IRCS were first used in 1988 and
continued to be popular well into the 1990s. The first recognizable social
media site 'Six degrees' was created in 1997. It enabled users to upload profile
and make friends with other users.

Higher education is the most sensitive stage in education. It is the stage where
the students have to create new knowledge rather than acquire knowledge
from a given phenomenon. They are supposed to generate new knowledge,
new principle, new concept, and new theories by making relations of their
previously learnt knowledge with new knowledge. Now a days, social media
has become an indispensible part of education, mainly of higher education. It
provides plenty of opportunities for learning and interactivity for students.
Today it is very difficult to see how students benefit from using social media.
Now days younger generations use such technology in classroom, they remark
the educational landscape. Earlier students are experiencing the world through
more than just books and assignments; but they are learning the concept and
adapting to the new world using a relatively new form of communication. It
has been said in old times that everything on this planet has both bright and
dark sides, benefits and consequences. It is an advisable thing that everyone
must practice careful usage of social media and social networking sites. Having
an ample knowledge in benefits and consequences effects of social media sites
will guard the students failing into the danger zone. Both sides revealed. Social
media has become very popular during the past few years, and it plays very
important role in higher education of a country. Now a days Facebook, Twitter,
Whatsaap and other social media became very favourite for the students
studying in colleges and universities. Social media stands as an educational
aide as students can easily access information for their projects, research and
homework. They can also share and express their thoughts and ideas as a form
of exercise to the freedom of speech, this creating a positive outlook to the
student's personal character. The negative effects of social media sites on
students like reduced learning and research capabilities, multitasking,
reduction in real human contact, reduces command over language use and
creative writing skills, time wastage, loss of motivation in students, effects on
health, low grade etc. are a threat for the present generation.

Since the concept of social media and social networking site is a new concept,
a limited number of studies have been conducted on the effect of social
median and social networking sites on undergraduate students.

Abir S and All H (2014) conducted a study on "The Impact of Social Networking:
A Study of the influence of Smart phones on College Students" in Sultan
Quaboos University, Oman with an objective to investigate the impact of social
networking on college students. They found out that college students were
facing problems in trusting, filtering and selecting the different information.
The study found out that social media or social networking sites affected
college students in both positive and negative ways.

Stanciu Andrei (2012) conducted a study on "Social Networking as an

Alternative Environment for education" in Romania Univerdity which aimed at
finding out the impact of social networks on educational process in Romanina
Higher Education. For the purpose of this study data was collected from
students and academics of Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies and found
out that social networking sites were very popular among students as a
valuable tool for education. The study had also found out that Facebook was
the most popular social media sites among young generation.

Rthika M and Sara S (2013) conducted a study on "Impact of Social Media on

Student's Academic Performance" in Nijalingappa College, Bangalore. The main
objective of the study was to find out how social media sites affected students
academic performance and the education system. They found out that India is
the third largest country in the world using internet. The study found out that
many students relied on the accessibility of information on social media
though there is loss of privacy and safety. For this study 100 students were
taken as sample and surveyed. They found out that male students mostly used
social media sites for knowledge. Further, it was found out that students who
scores 60-80% marks were most using social media sites for entertainment.
The study concluded that students should use the social media sites with much
care and cautions.

Megan (2013) conducted a study on the "The Effect of Social Networking Sites
on Students' in Yongstown State Universtiy, Priscilla, Gitimu. The objective of
the study was to know how the use of social media among students affected
communication with others and self concept. For this study 96 undergraduate
students assessed for their personal use of social media, communication skills
with friends and family and its effect on self concept. The study concluded that
media like Facebook and Twitter created new ways of communication with
friends and family and also influenced individual's self concept.

Adulahi (2014) studied on "A Study on the Negative Effects of Social

Networking Sites Such as Facebook among Asia Pacific University Scholars in
Malaysia" Social media sites are an electronic connection between users but
today unfortunately it has become an addiction for students. For this study 152
university students were surveyed to find out frequency of use of Facebook
and its impact on time spent in preparing for class and overall performance of
students. The study also examined the relationship between social network
sites and healthy threat and security issues. The study concluded that today
social media sites are running the future and career of students but students
should understand its impact on academic performance, health and how their
privacy suffers.

Rana Rashmi and Singh Neetu (2012) conducted a study on the topic The Use
of Social Networking on Academics: Benefit and Opportunity" in Dehradun
University. The objective was to examine how use of social networking in
academics is beneficial for the students. This study revealed that most of the
students felt that the social media sites had more positive impact on their
academic performance. Social media sites could be used for various academic
activities such as communicating with the faculty and university authority,
communicating with lecturers and supervisors, making academic discussions
with classmates and chatting with friends in respect to topics of educational
interest. This study concluded that social media sites could become research
networks as well as learning networks.

NEED OF THE STUDY

The present era is known as the era of ICT or Information and Communication
Technology. Like other requirements of human being, the use of internet and
social media has become one of his major necessities. A man in this age of
Information and Communication Technology cannot cope up himself with the
changing demands of society without the knowledge and skills of ICT.
However, the use of social media in higher education has brought an eye
catching improvement in teaching learning process. Through the use of social
media like Facebook, Wahtsaap, Twitter, Myspace, Instagram and other sites
students can access all information about the universe in their hands. But like
the two sides of a coin, every aspect has a positive and negative side which
should not be ignored.

Although, previous studies have been conducted on the effect of social media
use among students, a few studies on the effects of social media on
undergraduate students are available. Thus, there is a great necessity of
research studies on the effects of social media use, especially on
undergraduate students. Therefore, it is need of the present study.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The present study can be stated as "A STUDY ON EFFECT OF SOCIAL
NETWORKING SITES ON UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS OF G.M UNIVERSITY"

OPERATIONAL DEFINITIONS OF THE TERMS USED

Social Media: Social media refers to the websites and applications that enable
users to create and share content or to participate in social networking. Social
media are some applications or softwares that are functioned through a
computer, laptop, mobile phone or ipad. Facebook, Whatsaap, Twitter,
Instagram, Myspace, Skype, Linkedin, e-mail etc. come under social media.
Through social media one can communicate with other at a distant place and
also access a large number of information.

Social networking site: Social networking site is an online platform that is used
by people to build social networks or social relations with other people who
share similar personal or careen interests, activities, backgrounds or real life
connections.

Higher Education: Higher education is also known as psot-secondary education

or third level education. It is an optional final stage of formal learning that
occurs after secondary education. In India we consider undergraduate, post
graduate, M.phil, P.hD and other professional courses as higher education.
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

1. To study the effect of social media and social networking sites on

achievement of undergraduate students.

2. To study the frequency of using social media and social networking sites
varies among undergraduate students in relation to sex and discipline.

3. To examine both positive and negative impact of using social media on

undergraduate students.

4. To study the purposes of using social media and social networking sites by
the undergraduate students.

HYPOTHESES

1. There exists significant effect of social media and social networking sites on
achievement of undergraduate students.

2. There exist significant difference in using social media and social networking
sites among undergraduate students in relation to their sexand discipline.

3. There exists both positive and negative impact of using social media and
social networking sites on undergraduate students.

4. There may be both personal and educational purposes of using socialmedia

and social networking sites by undergraduate students.

DELEMITATION

 The present study is confined to the undergraduate students of

Gangadhar Meher University, Sambalpur in the state o Odisha.
  The study will be limited to 60 students of G.M University studying in
undergraduate course in Arts, Science and Commerce streams.

 The study is confined to 10 boys and 10 girls students from each stream.

RESEARCH METHOD

The research method to be used in present study is Descriptive Survey

Method. A descriptive survey method studies the present status of a
phenomenon and suggests measures for the future improvements. As the
problem is to study the effect of using social media and social networking sites
on undergraduate students, groups within the sample will be compared with
regard to sex and discipline.

POPULATION AND SAMPLE

The population from which the sample of the present study will be selected
constitutes of all undergraduate students of Arts, Science and Commerce
streams studying in Gangahar Meher University, Sambalpur in the state of
Odisha.

It is proposed that the sample will be selected following stratified random

sampling. The whole undergraduate students of Gangadhar Meher University
will be stratified into three strata i.e. Arts, Science and Commerce on the basis
of streams. A total number of 60 students, 20 from each stream including 10
boys and10 girls will be selected randomly from as sample of the present
study.
TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES
For the collection of information for the present study the researcher will
employ a set of the open form of questionnaires as the tool of data collection.
The questionnaires will be developed with consultation of the exports.

PROCEDURE OF DATA COLLECTION

After selecting tool and technique of data collection, the researcher will
proceed for the collection of data. For the collection of data, the investigator
will move to the students and meet them personally and create rapport. The
students

 Megan (2013) "How to use of social media among students affects

communication with others and self concept" Journal of Technology
Research Volume4, Jul213 Publisher Academic and Business Research
Institute(AABRIO Place of publication Jacskonville, pp 1-13.

 Rana Rashmi 7 Singh Neetu, "The Use of Social Networking in

Academics: Benefit and Opportunity", International Journal of Science
and Research (IJSR) Colume 3 Issues 6, June 2014.

 Rithika M. & Sara Selvaraj, "Impact of Social Meda on Student's

Academic Performance", International Journal of Logistic & Supply Chain
Mnagement Perspectives Pezzottaite Journals, Volume 2, Number 4,
October-December 2013

 Stanciu Andrei, Mihai florin and Aleca ofelia, "Social Networking as an

alternative environment for education", accounting and management
information systems, vol. 11, no.1, pp. 56-75-2012.