The study found that Facebook users had Grade Point Averages between 3 and 3.5, while non Facebook users had GPAs between 3.5 and 4.0. Grade Point Averages in the United States are calculated by taking the average of all the student's grades while at an institution - values are given to grades: A=4, B=3, C=2, D=1.

Facebook use was also linked to less time spent studying, with facebook users averaging between 1 and 5 hours per week and non facebook users averaging between 11 and 15 hours per week. Nevertheless, 79% of the facebook users claimed that it did not interfere with their academic performance.

Aryn Karpinski, who co-authored the study with Adam Duberstein points out that the results don’t necessarily mean that Facebook use leads to lower grades.

“There may be other factors involved, such as personality traits, that link Facebook use and lower grades,” she said.

“It may be that if it wasn’t for Facebook, some students would still find other ways to avoid studying, and would still get lower grades.  But perhaps the lower GPAs could actually be because students are spending too much time socializing online.”