This study investigates the perceptions and purposes of social media use in education among undergraduate students at the University of Ilorin. With the increasing integration of platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, and X into academic settings, understanding how students utilize these tools for academic and non-academic purposes is essential. A descriptive survey design was employed, and data were gathered from 269 students across various faculties. The findings reveal that while most students perceive social media as beneficial for communication, collaboration, and access to academic resources, a significant portion also views it as distracting. WhatsApp emerged as the most frequently used platform, especially for academic collaboration. The study further identified a significant relationship between social media use for academic purposes and students' perceived academic performance. However, non-academic use of these platforms often led to procrastination and negatively impacted performance. The study concludes that while social media offers valuable educational benefits, managing its use is crucial to minimize distractions.