THE EFFECT OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON THE LIFESTYLES OF NIGERIAN YOUTH

ABSTRACT

This research was carried out to investigate and find out the effects of social media on the lifestyles of the Nigerian youth at Federal College of Education, Abeokuta. This study considered the meaning of social media, relevant literature review and the methodology used was a survey research design. The findings revealed that social media makes the youth feel more exposed and connected, being able to share ideas, thought, e.t.c. with one another. The research findings also revealed that most youths in Federal College of Education, Abeokuta use or access Facebook more than once hourly, being exposed to inappropriate content on the social media sites. Findings revealed that social media sites  has affected the youth way of life in Federal College of Education, Abeokuta. Also, youth face – to – face interaction with one another has decreased due to social media. It was therefore recommended that the youth should beware of inappropriate content on the social media and be concerned about the online protection and sharing of individual information. Productive ventures through the social media platforms which would benefit both the source and the society should be embarked upon by the youths.

CHAPTER ONE

1.0              INTRODUCTION

1.1       BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Using social media websites is among the most common activity of today’s children and adolescents. Any website that allows social interaction is considered a social media site, including social networking sites, such as Facebook, Myspace, twitter, gaming sites and virtual worlds such as club Penguin, second life and the Sims etc. Such sites offer today’s youth a portal for entertainment and communication and have grown exponentially in recent years.

The definition of social media is the “relationship that exist between network of people” (Walter & Rivera, 2004). In the last ten years, the online world has changed dramatically. Thanks to the invention of social media where young men and women now exchange ideas, feelings, personal information, pictures and videos at a truly astonishing rate. Schill (2011) states that the social media sites encourage negative behaviours for teen students such as procrastination (catching up with friends), and they are more likely to drink and drug.

However, everyday, many students are spending countless hours immersed in social media such as Facebook, MySpace, World of war craft or SimCity. At first glance, this may seem like a waste of time, however, it also helps students to develop important knowledge and social skills, and be active citizens who share and create content, Brydolf (2007).

At present, whether social media is favourable or unfavourable, many students utilize these sites on a daily basis. As social media sites continue to grow in popularity, it is our belief that technology is a vital part of today’s student success equation.

Many researchers have been delving into a considerable amount of research on how social media influences retention of college youths. Many parents are worried that their college students are spending too much time on Facebook and other social media sites and not enough time studying which might ultimately expose them to new cultures, limiting them from fully exhibiting or practising of their own culture.

Therefore, for this reason, O’keffe & Clarke-Pearson (2010) asserts that it is important that parents become aware of the nature of social media sites, given that not all of them are healthy environments for youth’s good cultural standard.

Engaging in various forms of social media is a routine activity that research has shown to benefit children and the youth by enhancing communication, social connection and even technical skills. Social media sites offer multiple daily opportunities for connecting with friends, classmates and people with shared interests. Thus, a large part of this generations social and emotional development is occurring while on the internet and on Cell phones Ito, horst & Bittani (2008).

Due to their limited capacity for self-regulation and susceptibility to peer pressure, children, adolescents and youth are at some risk as they navigate and experiment with social media. Recent research indicates that there are frequent online expressions of offline behaviours, such as bullying, clique-forming, and sexual experimentation that have introduced problems such as cyberbullying, privacy issues and sexing, Lenhart (2009). Other problems that merit awareness include internet addiction and concurrent sleep deprivation.

Cooper (2013) opines that social media affects not only our lives when we are active on a social media site, but also when we are offline. Approximately one in five couples last year 2012 met on social  media sites such as Facebook. Some effects of social media on the youths include changes to your behaviour and habits. Some of these changes can have an adverse effects on our lives, due to factors such as peer pressure and the related stress caused by it, constant image maintenance needs to be maintained on social networking sites.

Currently, over 60% of the world’s population is active on social networking/media sites. Melville (2010). The increase in popularity of social media has had a profound effect on the lives of todays’ youth.

Youths update their social media sties with every little detail of their lives. Friendships are made and broken due to social media, privacy is all but lost and any embarrassment a person suffers in one’s life is available for the entire world to view on the internet which may lead to severe stress and ultimately have a profound  negative effect on one’s psychology.

1.2       STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

This research is interested in finding out the effects which social media have on the lifestyles of the youths. Specifically, the issues arising from the researcher are:

For what purpose are the youths utilizing social media? What are the positive and negative effects social media have on the youth? To what extent has the social media allowed or affected the youth cultural lifestyles? What are the possible solutions to the negative effects of social media on the youth lifestyle?

1.3       PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

The purpose of the study cannot be over emphasized considering the essential roles and the negative effects which social media have on the lifestyles of the youths generally. Therefore, this study seeks to investigate to what extent the youth lifestyles and culture are affected positively and otherwise and to offer series of suggestions that will assist the youths to use social media more positively than negatively at Federal College of Education, Osiele, Abeokuta.

1.4       RESEARCH QUESTIONS

In carrying out this project work, the researcher intends using this under listed questions in probing into the research.

What is the level of awareness of social media on the youth in Federal College of Education, Osiele, Abeokuta? What are the positive impacts of social media on the youth in Federal College of Education, Osiele? What are the negative impacts of social media in the youth lifestyles in Federal College of Education, Osiele? Which is the most popular social media site for the youths of Federal College of Education, Osiele? Does the social media make the youths feel more connected and exposed?

1.5       SCOPE OF THE STUDY

            This research is limited to the students’ of Federal College of Education, Osiele, Abeokuta due to time, financial constraints etc in order to collect data needed for the project easily

1.6       SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY 

This study is significant in the sense that it will help to identify those areas, and to what extent the social media has affected the youth lifestyles in the Nigerian society.

This study would help to advance the knowledge in the field of academics and also serve as a source of literature.

Above all, the study will equip the youths to encourage positive effect and guard against the negative effects of social media on the lifestyles.

1.7       DEFINITION OF TERMS

The following terms are used in study of the project.

Youth: Wikipedia sees youth as the time of life between childhood and adulthood (maturity). The Chambers Twentieth Century Dictionary sees youth as a state of being young early life; the period immediately succeeding childhood. Youth is also defined as the appearance, freshness, vigour, spirit, etc. characteristic of one who is young.

Social media: Refers to the means of interactions among people in which they create, share, and exchange information and ideas in virtual communities and networks.

Lifestyle: Wikipedia defines lifestyle as the typical way of life of an individual, group or culture.

Society: A group of people related to each other through persistent relations, or a large social grouping sharing the same geographical or social territory, subject to the same political authorities and dominant cultural expectations.

Social networking: Are platforms to build social networks among people who share interests, activities or real – life connections.