الفروق بين الجنسين في استخدام وسائل التواصل الاجتماعي وآثاره على التحصيل الدراسي لدى طلاب السلك الثانوي

Abstract Over the past two decades, research in Morocco has consistently highlighted a remarkable trend: female students outperform their male peers in academic achievement. This study investigates the relationship between social media use and academic performance among secondary school students in the Beni Mellal–Khénifra region, with a particular focus on gender differences. The central question is whether excessive engagement with social media can help explain this persistent female advantage. Based on a field survey conducted among public school students, the statistical analysis reveals no significant gender differences in the daily time spent on social media — boys and girls devote comparable hours to these platforms. The findings suggest that female students’ academic success is not directly linked to social media use, but rather to broader dynamics such as school dropout, migration aspirations, and socio‑economic or psychological factors. At the same time, other studies emphasize that disciplined and purposeful use of social media can serve as a valuable resource, enhancing learning and strengthening academic outcomes. Keywords: gender differences, academic achievement, social media, digital dependency, motivation for learning.