Beyond the Classroom: Artificial Intelligence and Social Media in Digital Learning Ecosystems and Their Impact on Student Academic Performance in Malaysia

Abstract

The rapid integration of Artificial Intelligence and Social Media into higher education has significantly transformed student learning environments, creating new opportunities and challenges for academic performance. This study aims to examine the impact of artificial intelligence and social media usage on student academic performance in Malaysia. A quantitative research design was employed, and data were collected from 300 university students using a structured questionnaire comprising 19 items across three constructs: artificial intelligence usage, social media usage, and academic performance. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics, reliability analysis, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression analysis via IBM SPSS Statistics. The findings indicate that both artificial intelligence and social media usage have significant positive effects on academic performance, with artificial intelligence demonstrating a stronger influence (β = 0.511, p < 0.001). The regression model explains 61.7% of the variance in academic performance (R² = 0.617, F(2, 297) = 239.733, p < 0.001), indicating strong explanatory power. The study concludes that the structured and purposeful integration of digital technologies plays a crucial role in enhancing student learning outcomes. These findings make several important contributions: theoretically, they extend the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) by demonstrating its applicability to integrated AI and social media usage in a non-Western higher education context; practically, they provide educators and academic administrators with evidence-based guidance for designing technology-enriched learning environments; and from a policy perspective, the findings inform institutional digital learning strategies in Malaysian public universities, offering a model for responsible and effective technology integration that can be adapted across the broader Southeast Asian higher education landscape.