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CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

 

1.0  INTRODUCTION

This research examines the issues of the relation between social media and its effect on lifestyle of the youth. Today, messages can reach audiences and target groups in real time and they can generate changes and tendencies. Crowds are becoming more powerful through technology, because technology has the ability to unite them.

 

According to Susan Greenfield, an Oxford University researcher in her article The Quest For Identity In The 21st Century, on Daily Mail UK 14^th September, 2010, as growing numbers of people discover the potential of the World Wide Web and as they become active parts of it and as technology becomes even more advanced, expanded, accessible and sophisticated, current forms of communication will transform, taking advantage of the crowd sourcing phenomenon.

 

This research will find out what these social media are. What is their use in the lives of the Youth and their implications on their lifestyle? New information Technology (IT) is almost everywhere and has dramatically altered the way we live. These tools have become valued elements of life in Nigeria merely because they opened many doors to youth and allowed them to interact freely and markedly unlike at any other time in history. In Nigeria, college and university campuses have been hit by new generations of youth coming from high schools with quite a decent knowledge about information technology and how to use its tools, especially cellular phones and computers. While any technology can be put to good or bad use, depending on the user, many parents have bought their children cellular phones and PCs so they may use them appropriately and effectively, mainly for learning purposes as well as knowing where they are at any time and come to their help if they need it.

 

1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

The speed of Internet has changed the way people receive the information. It combines the immediacy of broadcast with the in-depth coverage of newspapers making it perfect sources for news and weather information. Even with the multimedia excitement of the web, Electronic mail (email) is the most frequently used application of the Internet. Many people, who have access to the Internet at school, home and at work place use the Internet for no other purpose than to send and to receive the mail. It‘s not just friends and co-workers that are receiving email. Wherever you look, the web is providing email addresses. This has made communication between the strangers easier than ever. Chatting is one of the more popular activities on the Internet- people can talk to anyone across the world.

 

Introduction of social media networking sites has facilitated communication. These are web-sites where users can create a profile and connect that profile to others to form an explicit personal network. They are web-based services that allow individuals to:

1. Construct a public or semi-public profile within a bounded system
2. Articulate a list of other users with whom they share a connection
3. View and traverse their list of connections and those made by others within the system.

The nature and nomenclature of these connections may vary from site to site.

 

Through social media, people can use networks of online friends and group memberships to keep in touch with current friends, reconnect with old friends or create real life friendships through similar interests or groups. Besides establishing important social relationships, social media members can share their interests with other likeminded members by joining groups and forums. Some networking can also help members find a job or establish business contacts. Most social media websites also offer additional features. In addition to blogs and forums, members can express themselves by designing their profile page to reflect their personality.

 

The most popular extra features include music and video sections. The video section can include everything from member generated videos from hundreds of subjects to TV clips and movie trailers (You tube).

It is therefore the aim of this study to establish the effect that these social media has on the young individual‘s lifestyle.

 

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

This study will try to find out the effect that social media has on the youth‘s lifestyle. Technology has many positive aspects but, in the wrong hands, it can become dangerous. For the young people it is experiments to do what they feel is good or exciting to them and the friends and at the same time avoid adult supervision. Livingstone (2008) opines that for teenagers, the online realm may be adopted enthusiastically because it represents ‗their‘ space, visible to the peer group more than to adult surveillance, an exciting yet relatively safe opportunity to conduct the social psychological task of adolescence – to construct, experiment with and present a reflexive project of the self in a social context, as well as, for some, for flouting communicative norms and other risk-taking lifestyles.

Technology brought about social media which is a valuable tool but is somewhat misused by today‘s youth. The two main forms that the youth use to access social media are cell phones and the Internet which have brought about major changes in their lifestyle.

With the current exposure and easy access that the youth are able to get out of these mediums, this study will establish the effects it has have on the youth. Issues that are expected to arise out of this research include exposure to problematic materials, online victimization of youth, exposition to unnecessary online marketing and advertising, exposure to dangerous online lifestyles, issues of identity theft, the emergence of digital divide and generation gap between parents and the youth.

 

According to Ritchel, Matt in an article, ―Growing up Digital, Wired for Distraction.” on The New York Times. 21 Nov. 2010, others include wastage of time, building of shallow and harmful relationships, and, eventually, causing rather than alleviating, users‘ depression, loneliness, social isolation, and withdrawal among others.

 

 

1.3 GOAL  AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

GOAL: The goal of this research is to address the effect and implications of social media on the Nigerian youth especially those in Universities on the way they are using these medium and the consequences of that use on their lifestyle.

Specific Objectives:

1. To determine how the youth in Nigeria use social media in their daily lives
2. To determine if the youth in Nigeria prefer social media as means of communication as opposed to traditional methods.
3. To find out the effects social media has on lifestyles among the Nigerian youths.
4. To determine the risks that comes with use of social media on the Nigerian youth.

 

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

The following research questions guided the study:

1. How do the youth in Nigeria use social media in their daily lives?
2. Do the youth in Nigeria prefer social media as a means of communication as opposed to traditional methods?
3. What are the effects of social media on the lifestyle of youths in Nigeria?
4. What are the risks that come with use of social media among the youths in Nigeria?

1.5 JUSTIFICATION OF THE STUDY

It is hoped that the findings of this study will bridge the gap of lack of sufficient information on the effects of social media on the youth and lifestyle. The findings of this study may also be useful to the policy makers in various sectors of the government. For instance, in the educational sector curriculum developers will be informed when developing curriculum for the youth. In the health ministry, it will help doctors especially those dealing with counseling of the youth to know which tools to use to effectively communicate to the youth. The results of the study are likely to influence further scholarly research by other researchers who may be interested in this field of knowledge and initiate appropriate mitigation.