Social Media Usage and Its Impact on English Language Skill Development

Abstract

Social media has become a major communication tool, influencing the global connectivity of individuals. Its nature and pervasiveness have transformed communication, transcending all geographical boundaries. Social media has offered a new opportunity for informal language learning, allowing users to acquire and refine their language skills while actively practicing on these online platforms. This research paper examined the use of social media and its impact on the improvement of English language skills among undergraduate students in Morocco. The methodology conducted is based on a quantitative study, collecting numerical data through an online survey from undergraduate students from two public Moroccan universities. Using standardized metrics to measure usage patterns and frequency, and to explore perceived English skills improvements. The main result of this study reveals that social media takes a large part of daily activity in students’ lives, in addition to the diversity of social media platforms, which offers a real opportunity for informal learning of language, as illustrated in the remarkable improvement of English skills, in particular listening, reading, speaking, and enriching their vocabulary reserve.