The Use of Social Media by Teenagers in Day Secondary School, Delta State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study investigated the use of social media by teenagers in day secondary school in Delta State. A descriptive survey research design was embraced for the study, with a self-constructed questionnaire as the tool of data collection. The questionnaire was constructed after consultation of related literature to ensure that relevant items were included in it. A structured questionnaire was designed by the researchers with six research questions. The population of the study comprised all teenagers in day secondary school in Delta State, Nigeria. The researchers used a simple random sampling method in selecting samples for the study, because the method allows members of the populace under study to have equal chances of being selected. Data was collected through the use of a self-constructed questionnaire entitled ‘The use of social media by teenagers in day secondary (USMTDS)’. The data collected were analysed using simple percentages and descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings revealed that a majority of the respondents have access to social media and the devices used were bought for them by their parents; Facebook is mostly used by teenagers; teenagers access social media during the day; they did not know the length of time they spent on social media; teenagers used social media for academic matters; teenagers are monitored by parents on social media; and social media exposes teenagers to pornography materials. The paper recommended that efforts should be made by parents to ensure constant monitoring and supervision of teenagers on social media to reduce the crime rate, as well as restrict the sites they can access.

Keywords: Day Secondary Schools, Social Media, Teenagers, Delta State, Nigeria

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