Students in public universities are among the most active users of social media tools and platforms. There is little research data on the influence of social media on public universities in Kenya. It is critical to study how social media affects the wellbeing and academics of public university students in Kenya. The objective is to determine the influence of social media on public universities in Kenya. The research utilized a qualitative research design facilitated by a systematic literature review methodology. Findings from 12 studies were comparatively analyzed to determine the degree of conformity in a bid to answer the research question. The findings included that the influence of social media on a student’s wellbeing and academics depends on the student’s engagement in social media activities and consumption of the corresponding content. Social media can be an educational resource, enhance engagement, communication, and participation in classroom activities, and improve professional networking. Social media can also be a source of distraction and cybercrime besides the fact that it can also lead to addiction. The influence of social media on public universities in Kenya depends on the students’ engagement with social media activities and content. Educators, higher education administrators, and parents should monitor and control how students use social media content.