INFLUENCE OF SOCIAL MEDIA USE ON THE SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT OF NIGERIAN ADOLESCENTS AND YOUTHS

Abstract

Nigerian adolescents and youths are the most prolific ICT savvy group of people. They are also noted to be very active users of social media in Africa, only ranking second to Egypt. While social media has no doubt accelerated and enhanced the global communication spectrum, there are concerns regarding the negative effects on the social development of adolescents and youths who are the most prolific users. This study therefore sought to examine the effects of social media use on the social development of Nigerian adolescents and youths. Using survey as the research design, a questionnaire was administered on 250 adolescents and youths, between the ages of 16 and 40 years old, who use social media networking sites. Findings show that 96% of Nigerian adolescents and youths are engaged in social media use either in the continuous-sporadic or the discrete-intensive mode based on motivations and interests; 98% devote a significant amount of time daily to social media use; and that the social development of Nigerian adolescents and youths is influenced in varying degrees by social media use. The study concludes that social media use, if not checked, may have the potential to affect and impact Nigerian adolescents and youths negatively.