SOCIAL MEDIA LIFESTYLE AMONG IGBO YOUTHS - USAGE, AND EXPOSURE: THE ADDICTION, DEPRESSION AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT CORRELATES

Abstract

This study investigated social media lifestyle among Igbo youths - usage, and exposure - and relationships between addiction, depression and emotional development. A total of 100 participants were used in the study. Cluster and incidental sampling methods were employed. The instruments for the study were “social media addiction scale” by Copez-Lonzoy (2023), “beck depression inventory” by Beck (1921-2021), and “emotional development scale” by Hart (2019). The response period was between 20 to 30 minutes. Informed consent and confidentiality were observed as ethical issues. The design of the study was correlational design. The statistics was Pearson Moment Correlation. Data attained interval measurement. Analyses of data were done with version 25 of the SPSS. Findings (results) show as follows: Social media usage (number of social media platforms used) has non-significant and low positive relationship with social media addiction among Igbo youths; Social media usage (number of social media platforms used) has non-significant negative low relationship with depression among Igbo youths; Social media usage (number of social media platforms used) has non-significant and low positive relationship with depression among Igbo youths; Social media exposure (time spent on social media) has significant and positive low relationship with social media addiction among Igbo youths; Social media exposure (time spent on social media) has non-significant and negative low relationship with depression among Igbo youths; and Social media exposure (time spent on social media) has non-significant and positive low relationship with emotional development among Igbo youths. It is recommended that Igbo youths should sustain their seemly healthy access to social media. Again, it is recommended for sense of industry to be used to engage the youths meaningfully thereby reducing their unproductive addiction to social media.