AI, social media misuse fuel students’ poor performance — Experts

Education experts have raised concerns over the negative impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and social media misuse on students’ academic performance in Nigeria.

Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Thursday, educationists said the widespread abuse of social media and AI tools has led to increased student laziness and a drop in academic standards.

Associate Professor Sadiq Mohammed of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, explained that social media has facilitated examination malpractice, with many students relying on online platforms and ‘magic centres’ to cheat during exams.

“With the rise of AI, many students now relax and depend on technology to write their exams. They often achieve high scores through dishonest means but struggle to keep up academically later,” he said.

Mohammed called on the government to strengthen policies to curb AI misuse in schools and enforce academic integrity, including stricter checks on research papers and plagiarism.

Retired principal Judy Eke also criticized parents for enabling exam malpractice by funding their children’s cheating activities online.

“Parents are often complicit, providing data and money for children to sit exams elsewhere or hire proxies. This erodes the value of hard work and academic discipline,” she said.

Teacher Adebayo Olawole highlighted that while social media offers learning opportunities, it is also a major distraction. He noted that many students spend hours on social media daily but devote little time to studying.

“Students are more interested in social media trends than their education, and many use AI to complete assignments instead of engaging with textbooks,” Olawole added.

The experts urged educational authorities to regulate social media use, promote traditional study methods, and declare a state of emergency to address the worsening educational crisis.