Abstract:
ocial media is a global phenomenon changing the world in different ways. It has
also been found to have both positive and negative influences on education processes as well as
on students’ discipline. Therefore, the study sought to develop strategies for managing the
influence of social media on students’ discipline in secondary schools in Kenya. Based on the
study, this paper presents and discusses the research findings on the study objective which sought
to establish and assess the strategies that the schools have and can put in place to manage the
influence of social media on students’ discipline. The study utilized the pragmatic philosophical
paradigm and the mixed methods research design where both positivists and constructivists
approaches and techniques were combined. The study was undertaken in Bungoma County in
Kenya. It was carried out in 306 secondary schools in the County. The target population of study
was 19,000 students in Form 3. Scott Smith’s formula was used to determine the sample size of
600 students from 40 secondary schools as respondents. Purposive sampling was applied to select
the 40 deputy principals and 40 heads of guidance and counselling departments from the selected
secondary schools as respondents in the study. Three categories of boys’, girls’ and mixed schools
were chosen from each sub-county. The questionnaires used had both closed- and open-ended
questions. Interviews were also used to get more information for the study. Multiple Regression
used to analyse the quantitative data. The strategies for managing discipline by schools were rated
highly for implementation. The study recommended that schools should allow social media to be
used as a teaching and learning tool only. They should also employ experts to control social media
misuse by students. Schools should also enable teachers to monitor the use of social media by
students. Meanwhile, they should strive to reduce exposure time to social media by students. This
study will help schools to better address the root causes of student indiscipline and thus enhance
learning in their institutions.