Challenges and Prospects of Social Media on Digital Natives: The Case of Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined the Challenges and Prospects of Social Media on  Digital Natives in South-South Region of Nigeria. In other words, it set out to assess the challenges and the likely prospects that the social media holds for the class of young people described as digital natives by some erudite scholars. They were so described because they were viewed to have grew up using technological artifacts in every sphere of their living including learning. Therefore, the study adopted the survey method. The population consisted the 716 fresh undergraduate students of department of electrical/electronic of three selected Universities in the South-South region of Nigeria namely Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun covering Edo/Delta; University of Port Harcourt covering Rivers/Bayelsa and University of Uyo covering Cross River/Akwa-Ibom States. The study further adopted a sample size of 251 respondents from the population through the use of the National Statistical Service Size Calculator of Australia. Thus 251 copies of questionnaire were administered and returned. The data gathered were analyzed using the simple percentages and based on the 5-point Likert scale. The study revealed that the digital natives are actually very much knowledgeable and aware of the social media platform and it has also some harrowing effect on them which of course have become daunting challenges to their development. The study further revealed that despite the horrendous challenges articulated, social media portends some prospects that could be harnessed to change the shape of society and the way businesses are done. The study did not fail to draw some line of conclusions from the findings as a light to drafting some salient recommendations. It graciously recommended that there was need for attitude re-orientation for the digital natives to reduce social media addiction. However, again, it recommended that educational institutions convert such addictions to designing educational software that could engage the young people and make them relevant acquiring new skills and becoming efficient in a multi-task environment. It recommended that policy makers make use of the social media to create health and safety orientation as well as entrepreneurship and wealth creation for the young people. In addition, it recommended the expansion of the innovative approach of the social media in promoting e-commerce and e-business transactions as a way of creating a more efficient and functional society.

Keywords: digital natives, social media, digital immigrants, Nigeria, digital evolution