Use of Web 2.0 Tools by National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members for social integration: a case of Lapai Local Government Area (LGA) of Niger State

Anthony O Solomon,Tony I Obaseki

doi:10.4314/iijikm.v9i1.4

Abstract

The research work x-rayed the use of Web 2.0 tools by Corps members in Lapai LGA of Niger State. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. Questionnaire was used to elicit responses from the respondents. A sample size of 120 was drawn from a population of 138, using the random sampling technique. Of the 120 copies of the questionnaire administered, 108 copies were retrieved and used for analysis. The research findings show that the commonly used Web 2.0 tools by Corps members in Lapai LGA are Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, Podcasts, LinkedIn, IMO and Skype. The respondents used Web 2.0 tools frequently, and the purposes for which the tools are used include social interactions, live video chats, for economic activities, etc. The study showed that web 2.0 tools are useful because of their ‘easy to use’, ‘interactivity’, ‘social collaborative features’ and ‘updated in real-time’. Further revelations from the study showed constraints militating against the use of Web 2.0 tools include are high cost of data subscription, poor network signals and connectivity, addiction, high cost of support facilities and gadgets. The study however recommends that youths should explore Web 2.0 tools for academic and economic purposes while network providers and government should make the cyberspace affordable and safe.Keywords: Web 2.0, Corps members, Lapai LGA, Niger State, Youths

Highlights

Web 2.0 tools have come to stay as emphases are placed on digital information literacy and digital learning; digital communication and online interaction; digital storage and retrieval; digital and online access; and digital competency
Unlike Web 1.0 where users can only read web pages created by web administrators, Web 2.0 avail its array of users the opportunity to read created web pages, as well as write on those web pages
What is the usefulness of Web 2.0 tools to Corps members in Lapai Local Government Area (LGA)? 5

Summary

Introduction

Web 2.0 tools have come to stay as emphases are placed on digital information literacy and digital learning; digital communication and online interaction; digital storage and retrieval; digital and online access; and digital competency. 2. To reveal the extent (frequency) to which Corps members in Lapai LGA use Web 2.0 tools. 3. To ascertain the purposes for which Corps members in Lapai LGA use Web 2.0 tools. 2. To what extent (frequency) do Corps members in Lapai LGA use these Web 2.0 tools? 3. For what purposes do Corps member in Lapai LGA use Web 2.0 tools? 4. What is the usefulness of Web 2.0 tools to Corps members in Lapai LGA? 5. What are the constraints to use of Web 2.0 tools by Corps members in Lapai LGA?. Other uses of Web 2.0 tools include: user services in libraries (Adewojo & Mayowa-Adebara, 2018; Singha & Sarmah, 2015); participating in government programmes and policies (Ezema, Ezeah & Ishiwu, 2015). Other constraints are lack of social media tools (Singha & Sarmah, 2015; Ezema, et al, 2015); copy right issues (Singha & Sarmah, 2015); and lack of Web 2.0 literacy (Dunu & Uzochukwu, 2015)

Methodology

16 Buffer

Collaboration in creating knowledge and editing 33

10 Difficulty in knowing when friends are online and need 74