ABSTRACT

The citizens of Nigeria are privy to a news and communication channel at their disposal in the form of social media, which has emerged as an important active technological tool in the country. It is now possible to disseminate information with the tap of a finger owing to widespread access to mobile services, particularly among digitally adept young people. As the pandemic spread and curtailed normal human activities, social media platforms became increasingly important as channels for disseminating information to the public. The relevance of it has been brought to more people's attention, particularly as a result of the fact that the government instituted a lockdown policy in an effort to reduce the spread of the Covid-19 virus. As a result, it has developed into an effective instrument for active involvement and communication especially among the youths; allowing for the distribution of credible knowledge as well as falsehoods. Based on the aforementioned, the study was hinged on the following objectives; to find out what kind of social media sites young people use and why; to assess the potential benefits of social media use among youths; to investigate how social media affects youth during lockdown; to make recommendations on the best strategies to stop young people from becoming addicted to social media. The methodology utilized in this study was a survey involving the use of a questionnaire. The most important findings from this research were that social media remained a fundamental coping technique for the young people during the mandatory lockdown, and that it is an essential tool that needs to be maintained. As a result, the government of Nigeria needs to make certain policies so that people have more freedom of expression. Accessing improper content, being harassed or bullied online and cyber-bullying were identified to be the most significant issues associated with using social media by young people in Nigeria. According to the findings of the study, Nigerian health professionals, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and community-based organizations (CSOs) would be best served by maintaining up-to-date versions of their personal websites, blogs, and social media handles. Additionally, working journalists should be a part of the process in order to assist the various departments, agencies, and quasi-governmental organizations that are part of the federal and state governments in disseminating their message to a larger audience through the channels that are available in the traditional media.