SOCIAL NETWORKING PLATFORMS AND SITES AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN ONDO WEST LOCAL GOVERNMENT, ONDO STATE
Keywords:
Social Networking, Adolescents, Parents, Academics, Internet and SitesAbstract
The study investigated social networking platforms and sites among senior secondary school students: strategies for safeguarding patronage. A descriptive survey was used for the study. The population consisted of all undergraduates’ students and all households in Ondo West local government. Three hundred and ninety-nine (399) undergraduates and two hundred and fifty-five (255) parents were randomly selected as respondents. A self-developed structured and validated questionnaire was used for data collection. Data were analyzed using mean. Among others, findings revealed Facebook (4.00), Google (4.00), WhatsApp (4.00), you-tube (3.97) and Instagram (3.89) were social networking platforms and sites patronized among senior secondary school students. They used platforms and sites positively for educational aid e.g. in writing assignments (4.00), communicating with friends and family (4.00), access health and safety
information (3.42), academic competition (3.45) and acquisition of vocational and technical skills (3.06). However, the negative effects of unguarded use of the platforms and sites include; internet addiction (3.88), sexting i.e. online sexual solicitation (3.16), distraction from academic activities like reading (3.14), falling victim to internet scam (3.38) and sharing excessive information about self and family (3.56). If at all Facebook will be allowed for them, be their friend and friend to their friends (3.22), if at all twitter and Instagram will be allowed for them, be their followers so as to checkmate what they do (3.63); the time they can spend online should
not only be limited but also within a specific period (3.46) and going online to watch video should be prohibited at this stage (3.66) are possible ways to safeguard their use of the platforms and sites. Therefore, parents should be involved in what their adolescent children do online and give them specific time frame to go online.