INFLUENCE OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON CULTURAL VALUES AS EXPRESSED BY IN SCHOOL ADOLESCENT IN ILORIN METROPOLIS

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Background of the study

Social networking is a recent development made possible by the internet which has become very popular across the globe mainly with young people. This is mostly because it affords users the opportunity to interact with one another making it possible to share information, pictures and videos. This new form of social interaction also brings people of different social background together in a forum and enables them to interact regardless of location and time. According to (Asemah and Edegoh, 2022), social network is a social structure made up of individuals or organizations called “nodes”, which are tied or connected by one or more specific types of interdependency, such as friendship, kinship, common interest, financial exchange, dislike, sexual relationships or relationships of beliefs, knowledge or prestige. In addition, social network can also be referred to as a map of specified ties, such as friendship, between the nodes being studied. The nodes, to which an individual is thus connected, are the social contacts of that individual; the network can also be used to measure social capital which is the value an individual gets from the social network. Social networking sites include: Yahoo Messenger, Facebook Messenger, Blackberry Messenger (BBM), Googletalk, Google+Messenger, iPhone, Androids and so on. These networking sites are used by most people to interact with old and new friends, physical or internet friends (Asemah and Edegoh, 2022). Social networking sites allow users to have an online presence where they might share personal information about themselves, search for other users and communicate with those users, sometimes asynchronously and sometimes synchronously. The world’s most common social networking website, Facebook, currently has more than 500 million active users, each of whom has an average of 130 “friends” that they have connected with over the website (Ali, 2021). Rather (2017), noted that the Social networking sites and blogs which are being used today with tremendous passion and zeal have transformed the way of using internet in recent years by describing online tools and utilities which allow users for communication, participation and collaboration of information online. Today’s young generation, especially teens and youth are using technology through innovative ways due to which they are referred to as Millennial and have changed the ways we think, work and communicate even though they are in formative years of their life. Today’s youth because of these social networking sites have become technology addicts and are quite introverted. Social media was made possible by web and mobile based technologies which were used to turn communication into interactive dialogue among organizations, communities and individuals. It has also been described as an interactive mechanism on the internet. The high interactive stance of the social media has made it a vital part of social life all over the world. Kaplan and Haenlein (2020), defined social media as a group of internet based application that allows the creation and exchange of user generated content. They classified social media into six different classes which include; (a) Collaborative Project (Wikipedia), (b) Blogs and Micro blogs (Twitter), (c) Content Communities(U – tube), (d) Social Networking Site (Face book. 2go, BB chat ) (e) Virtual Game World(World of war craft) and (f) Virtual Second World (Second life). In his own contribution, Nations, (2020), views social media as social instruments of communication which are different from the conventional instruments like newspapers or magazines. They are online content, created by people using highly accessible and a scalable publishing technologies to disseminate information across geographical boundaries, providing interaction among people. It supports demonstration of knowledge and information, thereby making the people both information producers and consumers. This feature of making the people information producers and consumers is one of the distinguishing features of social media from traditional mass media that only make the people consumers only (Adelabu, 2018). According to Hughes (2019), social media are a collection of Internet websites, services, and practices that support collaboration, community building, participation, and sharing. However, the Nigerian society is one where family relationships are guided by hierarchy and seniority; a non-individualistic family system with older people respected and revered and a very decent dress pattern with no exposure of body parts. It is observed that only a fraction of this defining value system is left. Today, the rapid and aggressive spread of market economies and communication technologies under the influence of Western multinationals has brought new impediments to Nigerian cultures and values. Nigerians now cultivate the materialistic and individualistic habits and values previously associated with Western culture. The culture of individualism is fast eroding the values and ideals of the extended family system, which Nigerians are known for (Obioha, 2008). Excessive materialism, for instance, has changed the religious character of the traditional Igbos (Obiora, 1996) and kneeling down to greet an elder has become alien to the young Yoruba girl. Culture is learned, acquired, transmitted or diffused through contact or other means of communication flow from one generation to another, but as noted by Tardif (2002), it is not genetically transmitted; rather it takes place by process of absorption. No culture thrives by absorption. Global culture has seen Nigerians abandon the principle of cultural adaptation and alignment to strengthen their culture. Instead, they engage in total copying of foreign cultures with no modifications and innovations (Obioha, 2008). Fridah (1998) agrees that culture is a continuous process of change, but in spite of the change, it continues to give a community a sense of identity, dignity, continuity, security and binds society together. Therefore, the study seeks to examine the influence of social media on cultural values as expressed by in school adolescent in Ilorin metropolis

Statement of the problem

Adolescents are increasingly exposed to all forms of activities on social media. Therefore, utilizing these social media sites for friends’ news feeds, personal updates, events and activities, notes, and messages. The linkage between adolescents on social media sites has opened up channels of communication with people that one may not have the opportunity to meet face-to-face. The voluntary messaging function, commonly known as “status” on Facebook, Whatsapp, Viber, 2go and Myspace and Twitter, allows real-time instant messaging anytime and anywhere in the world. It is recorded that at least four million, three hundred and twelve thousand and four hundred Nigerians are on Facebook, with a good number of them being secondary school students (Facebook statistics, 2022). Their participation on internet greatly impact on various aspect of cultural life and values, in that they are easily swayed at accepting a norm which they seem comfortable about and this can cause them to lose the cultural values they were brought up with. However, some of these cultural values includes,respect for elders, family values, individualism, and egalitarianism, etc. This study thereby, examines the influence of social media on cultural values as expressed by in school adolescent in Ilorin metropolis.

1.3 Objective of the study

The primary objective of the study is to examine the influence of social media on cultural values as expressed by in school adolescent in Ilorin metropolis. The specific objectives is as follows:

To determine the extent in- school adolescents utilizes social media

To find out the social media platforms frequently used by in- school adolescents in Ilorin metropolis.

To determine whether there is a significant relationship between social media use and cultural values of  adolescents 

To ascertain how social media use influences the cultural values of in- school adolescents in Ilorin.

1.4 Research Questions

The following questions have been prepared for the study:

What is  the extent in- school adolescents utilizes social media?

What are  the social media platforms frequently used by in- school adolescents in Ilorin metropolis?

Is  there a significant relationship between social media use and cultural values of  adolescents?

How does social media use influences the cultural values of in- school adolescents in Ilorin?

1.5 Research hypotheses

The following hypothesis have been formulated to guide the study:

Ho1: The extent in- school adolescents utilizes social media is low.

Ha1: The extent in- school adolescents utilizes social media is high.

Ho2: There is no significant relationship between social media use and cultural values of  adolescents.

Ha2: There is a significant relationship between social media use and cultural values of  adolescents.

1.6 Significance of the study

The study is significant to students, teachers, parents policy makers on the current trends in social media world, in the following ways.  The study will help the students to know that social media can help them improve their selfimage and academic performance if used judiciously. 

The study will help the teachers to gain additional knowledge on the current issues in social media usage by the students and find the appropriate measures in helping students to maximise gain on these media for a sound teaching of cultural values. 

It will also open the eyes of the parents to the challenges encountered by their adolescents in social media usage in relation to their physical and cognitive development. 

This study will be useful to academic community as it will contribute to the existing literature.

1.7 Scope of the study

The study will determine the extent in- school adolescents utilizes social media. The study will also find out the social media platforms frequently used by in- school adolescents in Ilorin metropolis. The study will further determine whether there is a significant relationship between social media use and cultural values of  adolescents. Lastly, the study will ascertain how social media use influences the cultural values of in- school adolescents in Ilorin. Hence, the study is delimited to Ilorin metropolis, Kwara State.

1.8 Limitation of the study

Like in every human endeavour, the researchers encountered slight constraints while carrying out the study. Insufficient funds tend to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature, or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire, and interview), which is why the researcher resorted to a moderate choice of sample size. More so, the researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. As a result, the amount of time spent on research will be reduced.

1.9 Definition of terms

Social media:Social media are interactive technologies and digital channels that facilitate the creation and sharing of information, ideas, interests, and other forms of expression through virtual communities and networks.

Cultural values: the core principles and ideals upon which an entire community exists and protect and rely upon for existence and harmonious relationship.

Adolescent:  in the process of developing from a child into an adult.

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