Before you check your Facebook status in class, you might want to think again. That is, if you want to get good grades. A new study has found that checking Facebook and emails during class could cause college students to earn lower grades, Medical Daily reports.

Over the years, some of us have heard that multitasking somehow makes us more efficient and intelligent, but the new study says quite the contrary. Published in the journal Computers & Education, the study looked at non-academic internet use, including emailing, reading the news, or updating social media sites.

Researchers investigated how 500 college students used their time during class in a lecture hall. The students had their laptops out to take notes, but between note-taking, they were checking their phones and looking at Facebook. With so much new technology, students are much more likely to get distracted, causing grades to suffer.

A recent study conducted by the Pew Research Foundation found that 90 percent of young adults between the ages of 19 and 29 use social networking sites. Meanwhile, 67 percent of the age group uses social networking sites on their phone, and with so many new apps, like Instagram, being released so quickly, it’s hard not to be distracted.

Researchers say it’s not practical to confiscate phones in the classroom, though. Despite being a distraction in class, social media sites do have some benefits. The Pew Research Center acknowledges that Facebook, for example, is a great place to keep up with friends and family. The organization's research found that people who use Facebook have livelier and closer relationships, and a better support system.