Effect Of Social Media On Youths With Emphasis On TikTok

Introduction

1.1 Background to the Study

This research will find out what these social media are. What are their use in the lives of the University 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.

With the rise of digital media, people are investing more and more enthusiasm on the Internet. However, trends are always temporary. TikTok is undoubtedly one of the popular applications at present. Youths, as the majority of TikTok, have a new chance to express themselves on social media. In TikTok, millions of youths aged 12-20 years old share their short videos. There is a high chance that people will go viral just because of one video, and that is exactly what this kind of system does. It stimulates more and more people into the composition of short videos, hence leading to the new trend of shooting TikTok. Although TikTok is a private company, due to its optimistic development, people see the commercial opportunity of it and begin to explore potential human resources on TikTok. However, the negative aspects are still unclear to most people, since people only use their fragmented time to entertain themselves on the app, but the underlying effects of TikTok are one thing to consider as we dedicate our spare time to it[1]. So in the research paper, the negative effects of TikTok on youths will be analyzed. However, there are, of course, advantages to watching TikTok videos, so they are going to be included as well. As an extension, this paper will explore the relaxing and healing functions of TikTok on other people, apart from youths (this will be just a small portion of my research). Then, data will also be collected from classmates and friends (they are between the ages of 16-19), and the data will be analyzed using statistics to conclude the final result. Last but not the least, the purpose of this research is because people need to think more when they are watching short videos. If TikTok can bring people negative value, it will certainly offer valid value, and that is what people will hopefully focus on the next time they watch a video. Furthermore, because this is primarily for youths, and there is a mode called “youth mode” that can send healthy and optimistic videos that motivate youths to cherish their current lives, there is a theory that discusses how this youth mode may help to mitigate the negative impact TikTok has already had.

Overall, the impact can be classified into educational, social, and perceptual aspects. With the understanding of the influence of TikTok, parents and teachers can better supervise youths so they can both enforce rules, such as when studying, TikTok and other social media are prohibited, but also create a positive relationship with youths. In addition, youths themselves can develop self-discipline by determining when to watch TikTok and what they should watch as they realize how their lives could be shaped by TikTok. Potentially, youths can use TikTok as a tool to enhance their self-esteem.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

This study will try to find out the impact that social media has on the youths with emphasis on tiktok. 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 Purpose of the Study

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

1.4 Objectives of the Study

To determine how the youth in Nigeria use tiktoka in their daily lives

To determine if the youth in Nigeria 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.

To determine the risks that comes with use of social media on the Nigerian youth.

1.5 Research Questions

The following research questions guided the study:

How do the youth in Nigeria use tiktok in their daily lives?

Do the youth in Nigeria prefer social media as a means of communication as opposed to traditional methods?

What are the impacts of social media on the behavior change of youths in Nigeria?

What are the risks that come with use of social media among the youths in Nigeria?

1.6 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.

1.7 Scope of the Study

The study seeks to find out the impacts of social media among the youth. 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 universities that are based around Abuja central business district, as opposed to other institutions outside the stated realm of orientation or geographical boundary.

1.8 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 behavior change 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.

1.9 Assumptions

The researcher will basically proceed with assumption that she will be able to locate the respondents and that they will be willing to co-operate and give truthful and sincere answers to the items listed in the questionnaires.

1.10 Organization of the Study

As already noted the first chapter briefly gives a brief background study of the insurance market in Nigeria specifically the current state of the claim administration in the country. It goes further to state the problem, aims and objective of the study. Chapter two provides the theoretical basis for this research by reviewing the distinguishing characteristics of service quality measuring models, their dimensions, the relationship between prompt claim settlement and behavioral intentions, empirical studies as well as conceptual framework along with brief description of hypotheses formulated. Chapter three describes the methodology used in the research study. Chapter four details the primary data collected for the research as the findings and the analysis of these data. Finally, the fifth chapter presents the summary, conclusion and recommendation from the researcher.

1.11 Definition of Terms

Social Media

Is a collective term for websites and applications that focus on communication, community-based input, interaction, content-sharing and collaboration. People use social media to stay in touch and interact with friends, family and various communities.

Tiktoka

Video-sharing application for computers and smartphones. verbWord forms: -Toks, -Toking or -Toked (also not capitals) 2. to share (a video) using the TikTok application. Collins English Dictionary.

Youth

The period between childhood and adult age.