International records / OpenAlex research

Whatsapp as Educational Infrastructure: Platform Affordances and Mobile-First Learning in Nigerian Universities

Educational technology discourse often positions social media as distraction from learning. However, empirical evidence from developing contexts reveals more complex realities. This mixed-methods study examines WhatsApp's role in Nigerian undergraduate education through survey data (n=229) and management interviews (n=10), employing Uses and Gratifications Theory, Social Cognitive Theory, and theoretical integration frameworks. Findings demonstrate WhatsApp's overwhelming dominance (90.8–100% familiarity; 73.3–87.5% active usage) transcending institutional types. Contrary to deficit narratives…