IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON SEXUAL-RELATED BEHAVIORS AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

ABSTRACT

This study was designed to find out impact of social media on sexual-related behaviors among university students at the University of Benin, Ugbowo, Benin City, Edo state. Three (3) research questions were formulated and twenty-three (23) questions were administered to the respondents in which was to collect response from the respondents. The study adopted a descriptive survey; the purpose of descriptive survey research is to describe that which exists as accurately and clearly as possible. The sample size of the study is 580 students selected from the targeted University. The sample was selected using the simple random sampling technique. The research instrument used in this study was a Questionnaire titled "Impact Of Social Media On Sexual-Related Behaviors among University Students Questionnaire" (ISMSRBUSQ). The questionnaire was structured into sections A and B. Section A consists of the demographic data of the students. Section B consists of the 23 questions formulated for the study and the type of response expected is that of close-ended questionnaire option.. Data was analyzed using mean analysis. The study findings underscore the potential adverse impact of exposure to sexual content on academic performance, revealing a potential source of distraction. It is crucial to recognize that individual responses may vary, influenced by factors such as personal values, self-discipline, and the specific nature of the encountered content. Nevertheless, acknowledging the potential for distraction and its implications for academic achievement is imperative for both students and educator. It is recommended that Parents, educational institutions, and the government should collaboratively guide and support university students in managing social media use, particularly addressing its potential impact on sexual behaviors, through laws controlling excessive social media use in schools, and parents monitoring and minimizing wards' exposure to sexual content to enhance academic focus in Nigerian universities.