This study investigates the mediating role of altruism in the relationship between knowledge formation, knowledge sharing, and learning performance within social networks in a university context. Employing a quantitative methodology, the research adopted a non-experimental, cross-sectional design, analysing data from 130 university students. The research focused on assessing whether altruism could effectively mediate between knowledge formation, its exchange, and academic performance. The results indicated that knowledge sharing has a direct and significant impact both in fostering altruism and in improving learning performance. However, altruism did not prove to be a significant mediator in enhancing learning performance. Furthermore, it was found that knowledge formation did not have a significant direct impact on either altruism or academic performance. These findings suggest the need to rethink how altruism is promoted in educational contexts and to reconsider the usefulness of social networks as tools to enhance academic performance through these variables. The research underscores the importance of facilitating knowledge exchange on social networks to maximise educational benefits.