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Education·G Space·Evidence-backed gain·Published 2026-07-20

Artificial intelligence and social media on academic performance and mental well-being: Student perceptions of positive impact in the age of smart learning

The advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) and the ubiquity of social media have become transformative agents in contemporary educational ecosystems. The spotlight of this inquiry focuses on the nexus between AI and social media usage in relation to academic performance and mental well-being, and the role of smart learning in facilitating these relationships. Using partial least squares-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) on a sample of 401 Chinese university students. The study results reveal that both…

TRV-2026-0449Peer-reviewedPermanent record — cite & verify
Artificial intelligence and social media on academic performance and mental well-being: Student perceptions of positive impact in the age of smart learning

Yantaiclass2 by Glennsmart at English Wikipedia. Public domain

The quick read

In a peer-reviewed study published April 1, 2024, researchers surveyed 401 Chinese university students and modeled how AI and social media use relate to academic performance and mental well-being, with smart learning as a mediator.

The reported positive associations matter for education policy and student support, but the cross-sectional perception-based design and single-country student sample leave uncertainty about causality, long-term effects, and applicability to other populations.

Main points
  • Study examined nexus between AI and social media usage and academic performance and mental well-being with smart learning as mediator.
  • Method was partial least squares-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) on 401 Chinese university students.
  • Findings reported positive impact of both AI and social media on performance and well-being.
  • Smart learning identified as positive mediating variable that amplifies beneficial effects.
Gain

University students perceived that AI and social media use improved academic performance and mental well-being, with smart learning amplifying those benefits.

The rundown

The study used PLS-SEM to test relationships among AI use, social media use, smart learning, academic performance, and mental well-being in 401 Chinese university students.

Results described in the text state that both AI and social media had positive impacts and that smart learning mediated and amplified those effects, contributing to technology-enhanced education discourse.

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