THE IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON JUVENILE DELINQUENCY OF SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS

ABSTRACT

The aim of this research is to address the impact and implications of social media on the Nigerian youth especially those in Secondary school. Specifically, the study focused on the impacts of social media on the Juvenile Delinquency of youths in Nigeria. Four secondary schools were selected from central business district, FCT Abuja. The study employed the quantitative and qualitative method of research. The target population for this study includes 80 students from 4 selected Secondary school in Abuja, Nigeria. A total of 80 questionnaires were distributed and 73 were returned, representing 91.25% response rate. The schools include, Government Day Secondary School, Karu, Government Day Secondary School, Bwari, Government Day Secondary School, Gwagwalada, Government Girls Secondary School, Dutse. The study found out that the youth in Nigeria use social media a lot and they spend more time on social media with Facebook, Whatsapp and Twitter topping the list. The youths mostly used social media for communicating between their friends and families. They depended on it for various positive things such as research and contacts with old friends and getting on the loop of what was happening either in their circles, nationally or internationally.

TABLE OF CONTENT 

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the study

1.2 Problem statement

1.3 Purpose of the study

1.4 Significance of the study

1.5 Study hypotheses

1.6 Scope and Limitations of the Study

1.7 Definition of Basic terminologies

1.8 Organization of Study

CHAPTER TWO:

REVIEW OF RELATED AND RELEVANT LITERATURE

2.1 Introduction 

2.2 Conceptual Review

2.3 Theoretical Framework

2.4 Empirical Studies

CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.0 Introduction

3.1 Research Design

3.2 Sources of data collection

3.3 Determination of Population

3.4 Determination of sample size

3.5 Instrumentation

3.6 Instrument Validation

3.7 Adopted Method of Analysis

CHAPTER FOUR: DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION

4.1 Introduction

4.2 Data Presentation

4.3 Data analysis

4.4 Data Interpretation

CHAPTER FIVE: CONCLUSION, SUMMARY, RECOMMENDATION 

5.1 Introduction

5.2 Conclusion and Findings

5.3 Summary of the Study

5.4 Recommendation

Bibliography

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

This research examines the issues of the relation between social media and its impact on behaviour change 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 14th 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 are their use in the lives of the college students and their implications on their behavior. 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.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

This study will try to find out the impact that social media has on the youth‘s behaviour. 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 behaviors. 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 impacts 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 behaviours, 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 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

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

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 impacts social media has on behavior changes 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 impacts of social media on the Juvenile Deliquencyof 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 behavior change. 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.

1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The study seeks to find out the impacts of social media among the youth on behavior change. While the study recognizes that new interactive technologies have impacts on other age groups outside the youth bracket, and as such this study will limit itself only to the youths in Nigeria. The study will focus itself only five Secondary school that are based around Abuja central business district, as opposed to other institutions outside the stated realm of orientation or geographical boundary.

1.7 LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

The study is limited by time and financial resources and as result the research will have to source for more financial resources and use alternative means. Since few similar studies have been done especially in institutions of higher learning, there is limited empirical literature on the area of impacts of social media on Juvenile Delinquency especially in the context of Nigeria. Another expected limitation is that the youth might fail to give correct information on the basis of invasion of their privacy. The researcher will explain to them that the study is purely for academic purposes and not motivated by any other interests whatsoever.

Definition of Terms

Juvenile Delinquency: the habitual committing of criminal acts or offences by a young person, especially one below the age at which ordinary criminal prosecution is possible.

Social media: Social media are interactive computer-mediated technologies that facilitate the creation or sharing of information, ideas, career interests and other forms of expression via virtual communities and networks.

Youth: the period between childhood and adult age.