Introduction
1.1 Background of the study
Social media is the integration of digital media, which includes combinations of electronic text, graphics, moving pictures and sounds in a structured computerized environment that allows users to interact with the data for appropriate purposes. The digital environment can include the Internet, telecommunications and interactive digital television. The Web is now part of the overall business of communication, sales and services. It changes business practices. Its technical limitations affect the amount of material and the speed of access to the material. The network depends mainly on the connections of the telephone line, so that the more they are good on a territory, the more the service will be reliable. The limitations inherent in transferring large amounts of digital information over telephone lines have affected the type and quality of media that can be used effectively, as well as the nature of the interaction enabled by the Web. There are ways to increase performance by improving technical limitations that depend on an available infrastructure that can provide more data faster and more reliably, called broadband.
It is clear that there is a link between social networks and their impact on behavioral change among young people. As a result, messages can reach audiences and target groups in real time and can generate changes and trends. Nowadays, younger generations grow up having good contact with different types of social networks. easily acquire digital culture and live in a digital world where only adults are naturalized citizens. ”
Tapscott (1998) talks about growing up in a digital environment by calling young people “network generation”. Children meet in a hybrid virtual space, learn in an innovative way, create new language and apply multicultural values ?(Tappscott, 1998). The main characteristics of the N-Gen culture are: independence, emotional and intellectual openness, inclusion, freedom of expression and strong points of view, innovation, maturity, pleasure of research, immediacy and sensitivity to the interests of the people. companies, authentication. and trust. (Tapscott, 1998 pp. 62-69).
1.2 Problem statement
Livingstone (2008) believes that the online domain can be enthusiastically embraced as it represents their space, visible to the peer group rather than adult vigilance, an exciting yet relatively safe opportunity to do the job. . Psychological social adolescence. to build, experiment and present a project of self-reflection in a social context, as well as, for some, to circumvent the norms of communication and other risky behaviors. 4 Social networks generated by technology are a valuable tool, but today’s young people are misusing them.
The two main forms used by young people to access social networks are the cell phone and the Internet, which have significantly changed their way of life. Given the current visibility and ease of access that young people can get from these media, this study will determine the impact it has had on young people. Some of the issues that should result from this research include exposure to problematic materials, online victimization of youth, exposure to unnecessary marketing and online advertising, exposure to unsafe online behavior, identity theft problems, the emergence of the digital divide and the generation gap between parents. and young people. According to Ritchel, Matt wrote in the New York Times an article entitled “Wire more and more digital, distracting cabling.” On November 21, 2010, wasting time, building superficial and damaging relationships and possibly the cause, instead of alleviating, depression, loneliness, social isolation and withdrawal of users, among others. .
1.3 Purpose of the study
The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of social media trends on the behavioral pattern of youths, using the Lagos State as a case study.
Specifically the study seeks:
- To determine how the youth in Lagos state use social media trends in their daily lives
- To determine if the youth in Lagos state prefer social media as means of communication as opposed to traditional methods.
- To find out the impacts social media has on behavior changes among the Nigerian youths
1.4 Significance of the study
It is hoped that the results of this study will make up for the lack of sufficient information on the effects of social networks on young people and behavior change. The results of this study can also be Be useful for decision makers in various sectors of government. For example, in the
Educational program developers will be informed when they develop a program for the education sector. In the Ministry of Health, it will help doctors, especially those who are in charge of counseling Young people need to know what tools to use to communicate effectively with young people. The results of the These studies are likely to influence the academic research of other researchers likely to Interested in this area of knowledge and initiate appropriate mitigation measures.
Study hypothesis
The study hypothesis is:
Hypothesis 1
- HO1: The youth in Lagos state donot prefer social media trend as opposed to traditional methods
- HO1: The youth in Lagos state prefer social media trend as opposed to traditional
Hypothesis 2
- HO2: There is no significant impact of social media trend has on behavior changes among the Nigerian youths
- HO2: There is a significant impact of social media trend has on behavior changes among the Nigerian youths
1.5 Scope and Limitations of the Study
The study scope is study seeks to find out the impacts of social media trend among the youth on behavior change in Lagos state. Limitation faced by the research was limited time and financial constraint
1.6 Definition of Basic terminologies
Social media:
websites and applications that enable users to create and share content or to participate in social networking.
Behavioural change:
Behavior change (public health), a broad range of activities and approaches which focus on the individual, community, and environmental influences on behavior
social media influencer:
A Social Media Influencer is a user on social media who has established credibility in a specific industry.
1.7 Organization of study
The study is grouped into five chapters. This chapter being the first gives an introduction to the study. Chapter two gives a review of the related literature. Chapter three presents the research methodology; chapter four presents the data analysis as well as interpretation and discussion of the results. Chapter five gives a summary of findings and recommendations.
