1. UNIVERSITY UNDERGRADUATES’ USE
OF SOCIAL MEDIA IN KWARA STATE,
NIGERIA
BY
AKINTOLA, Mubarak Akinsegun
13/68OH005
AN M.ED PROJECT PRESENTED TO THE
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SCIENCES
EDUCATION, FACULTY OF EDUCATION,
UNIVERSITY OF ILORIN, ILORIN, NIGERIA IN
PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS
FOR THE AWARD OF MASTERS DEGREE IN
SOCIOLOGY OF EDUCATION
2. ii
APPROVAL
This is to certify that this research was carried out by AKINTOLA,
Mubarak Akinsegun and has been read and approved as meeting part of the
requirements of the Department of Social Sciences Education, Faculty of
Education, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria for the award of the Masters of
Education (M.Ed) Degree in Sociology of Education.
…………………… …………………
Dr. I. O. O. Amali Date
Project Supervisor
…………………… …………………
Prof. A. A. Jekayinfa Date
Head of Department
…………………… …………………
Prof. A. A. Adegoke Date
Dean, Faculty of Education
…………………… …………………
External Examiner Date
4. iv
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
All praises and adoration to Almighty Allah for His favours over me
and making the completion of this phase of my academic career a reality.
My special gratitude goes to my supervisor Dr. I. O. O. Amali for his
diligence and meticulousness. He did not just groom and lead me along the
path of academic pursuit but also opened the doors of his office and home to
me. To him, I will always remain grateful and pray that he and his family
always find doors of Allah’s blessings opened.
I must acknowledge the encouragement of Prof. C. O. Daramola, the
Beacon of Hope for Sociologists of Education in Nigeria, he always has kind
words for me. I also acknowledge the following lecturers in Sociology of
Education unit, Drs. (Mrs.) M. B. Bello, I. P. Okafor, and Mr. A. O. Balogun
for their special interest in me, mentoring and supporting me on various
occasions.
In the same vein, I am immensely grateful to the following lecturers in
the Department of Social Sciences Education: Profs. A. A. Jekayinfa (HOD),
O. E. Abdullahi, Drs. B. O. Olawuyi, A. Yusuf, H. O. Owolabi, R. W.
Okunloye, H. T. Yusuf, M. Nuhu, Mr. M. I. Jimoh, Mrs. D. Olatunji and E.
5. v
O. Uyanne, and the non-academic staff in the Department for their kindness,
understanding and support.
And to every member of the Akintola family: Prof. Ishaq Akintola for
his unconditional love, support and motivation; my step-mother, Alhaja
Aminat Akintola; to my siblings and extended family, I owe special gratitude
for their prayers, support and understanding throughout this programme. I
must specially acknowledge Alhaja Sekinat Arimiyau for her calls, support
and prayers during this programme. Also, my lasting indebtedness to the
members of my late mother’s family, Mr. Tunde Bello and Mr. Kola Sanni
and their Families, for making my stay in Ilorin comfortable.
I also wish to express my special thanks to fellow Post Graduate
students at University of Ilorin, Nigeria, these include Ustadh Mahmud Jamiu,
Mr. Jacob Olumayowa, Segun Odutayo, Ridwan Oniye, Misturah
Animashuan, Mrs. Aminat Ibrahim. I wish every one of them the best in their
academic career and life endeavours. I owe a debt of gratitude to a dear friend,
Abdulfatai Olaoluwa Dosunmu and his brother, Mr. Idris Dosunmu. I will
forever remain grateful to both of them. Lastly, my special thanks to Zeenat
Oluwakemi Gbadamosi, a brighter future is within reach with her by my side.
6. vi
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Title Page i
Approval ii
Dedication iii
Acknowledgements iv
Table of Contents vi
List of Tables ix
List of Figures x
Abstract xi
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
Background to the Study 1
Statement of the Problem 9
Purpose of the Study 12
Research Questions 13
Scope of the Study 14
Operational Definition of Terms 15
Significance of the Study 17
7. vii
CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
Concept of Social Media 20
Evolution of Social Media and Its Platforms 23
Social Media as a Medium of Socialization 37
Uses of Social Media 40
Perspectives on University Undergraduates’ Use of Social Media 59
Positive and Negative Uses of Social Media among Undergraduates 65
Regulation and University Undergraduates’ Use of Social Media 78
Theoretical Framework 86
Appraisal of the Literature Reviewed 92
CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research Type 97
Population, Sample and Sampling Technique 98
Instrumentation 99
Procedure for Data Collection 100
Data Analysis Techniques 101
8. viii
CHAPTER FOUR: DATA ANALYSIS AND RESULTS
Answering Research Questions 102
Summary of Findings 118
CHAPTER FIVE: DISCUSSION, CONCLUSION
AND RECOMMENDATION
Discussion of the Findings 120
Conclusion 130
Recommendations 133
Suggestion for Further Studies 134
References 135
Appendix 154
9. ix
LIST OF TABLES
TABLE PAGE
1. Prominent Media Houses’ Handles and Followers on Twitter 54
2. Favorite Social Media Platform of University Undergraduates 103
3. Device University Undergraduates use to Access Social Media 105
4. University Undergraduates’ Frequency of Use of Social Media 107
5. University Undergraduates’ Use of Social Media Motivating
Factor 109
6. Benefits University Undergraduates derive from the Use of
Social Media 110
7. Factors that Determine Contents of Messages University
Undergraduates post on Social Media 111
8. Constraints University Undergraduates face in Accessing
Social Media 112
9. Level of Awareness of Privacy Mechanism of University
Undergraduates on Social Media 113
10.University Undergraduates’ Use of Privacy Mechanism on
Social Media 115
11.Opinion of University Undergraduates on Control of Social
Media by Authorities 117
10. x
LIST OF FIGURES
FIGURE PAGE
1. Favorite Social Media Platform of University Undergraduates 104
2. Device University Undergraduates use to Access Social Media 106
3. University Undergraduates’ Frequency of Use of Social Media 108
4. Level of Awareness of Privacy Mechanism of University
Undergraduates on Social Media 114
5. University Undergraduates’ Use of Privacy Mechanism on
Social Media 116
11. xi
ABSTRACT
Social media emerged as an interactive platform that offers its users the
opportunity to engage with each other, generate content, distribute and search.
This study was conducted to find out university undergraduates’ use of social
media in Kwara State. The specific purposes examined among others were:
favorite social media platforms of university undergraduates, frequency of
use, factors that motivate their uses, frequency of use of privacy mechanism,
and the opinions of university undergraduates on the control of social media
by authorities.
The research type employed for this study was a descriptive survey.
The population for this study were all undergraduates in universities in Kwara
State and all 300 level undergraduates were the target population. A total of
400 respondents were randomly selected but 387 of them completely
responded to the researcher-designed instrument (questionnaire) which was
administered and used to gather information for this study. The validity of the
instrument was ensured by experts in department of social sciences education.
The reliability co-efficient value of the instrument was r = 0.87. Percentage,
mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions
raised in this study while pie-chart was used to interpret the tables.
The first finding revealed that Whatsapp is the favorite social media
platform of university undergraduates in Kwara State. Another finding
revealed that social media is indispensable in the lives of undergraduates. The
third finding revealed that collaborative learning is one of the major reasons
university undergraduates use social media; and also one of the major benefits
derived from it. In addition, a finding revealed that majority of undergraduates
are aware and use privacy mechanism on social media. Finally, it was revealed
that there exists diverse opinions among undergraduates on the regulation of
social media by authorities.
In view of the findings of this study, it was recommended among others
that university undergraduates should see social media as an avenue to
connect with fellow students to facilitate learning beyond classroom walls.
Universities should engage students on social media to cease the initiative and
enhance its use for beneficial means. University management, parents and
government should monitor social media activities of undergraduates to check
the excessive and abusive use of the platforms without invading their privacy.
