Social media and academic procrastination: a challenge for college students in the 21st century
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.62305/alcon.v6i4.1260Keywords:
social media; academic procrastination; university students; language learning; self-regulation; phubbingAbstract
The use of social networks has become a factor influencing academic procrastination among university students, particularly when employed for recreational purposes. Self-regulation and self-control emerge as key mediating variables in this relationship. This study aimed to analyze the relationship between social network use and academic procrastination in university students, with emphasis on the Language Studies program in the province of Manabí, Ecuador. A structured documentary review was conducted of publications between 2015 and 2025 in international and regional databases (Scopus, Web of Science, Scielo, Redalyc, Dialnet, and Google Scholar). Global, regional, and local evidence was systematized, confirming a consistent association between recreational use of social networks and academic procrastination, although its magnitude varies depending on the platform and cultural context. Messaging applications used for academic purposes show an inverse or null relationship, whereas recreational platforms concentrate the strongest association. In the case of Manabí and the Language Studies program, a research gap was identified that justifies future empirical studies with validated instruments.
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