Journal of Development Communication And Applied Theatre

TikTok has emerged as one of the most popular social media platforms among university students, sparking debate over its potential effects on academic performance. This study aims to evaluate the TikTok phenomenon and its impacts and consequences on the academic performance of students at Nasarawa State University. Employing a survey research design, the study sampled 200 students across all four academic levels. The investigation was guided by the Media System Dependency Theory and the Uses and Gratifications Theory. The findings revealed that the majority of respondents spent between 6 to 10 hours daily on TikTok. The study established that TikTok usage did not positively influence the academic performance of the respondents. It further highlighted that TikTok usage led to constant distractions, including notifications, endless scrolling, and watching short videos, which significantly disrupted students' concentration and hindered their ability to engage in deep and meaningful learning. The study recommends encouraging students to leverage TikTok's creative potential to enhance their academic performance. In addition, it advocates for university authorities in Nigeria to incorporate media literacy education into the curriculum. This would equip students with critical thinking skills, enabling them to analyse and evaluate the content they consume on TikTok and distinguish between misinformation, harmful trends, valuable educational and creative content.

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