Article Details

The study determined the influence of social media on the language use and writing skills of English and literature students at the University of Benin, A descriptive research design was employed. The 400 level students in English and literature from the Department of Educational Foundations at the University of Benin comprised the study's population. 100 students were chosen at random from the population. Using a questionnaire that the researchers had developed; three English lecturers at the university validated the instrument. The reliability of the instrument was tested with thirty (30) students who did not participate in the main study. Cronbach's Alpha coefficient of 0.713 indicated that the instrument was reliable. The frequency count, mean, and standard deviation were used to address the issues raised by the investigation. The results show that University of Benin English and literature students' writing skills are influenced by social media. Therefore, it was advised that students utilize social media platforms sensibly, take periodic "digital detox" periods, and engage in online forums or communities devoted to writing, reading, or language acquisition.