ABSTRACT
This study examined the influence of social media on youth entrepreneurship. The objectives of the study were to examine the influence of social media on entrepreneurial mindset of young people, ascertain the specific ways in which social media can help young people start and grow their businesses, and investigate the challenges that young entrepreneurs face when using social media.
The study adopted the use of quantitative methods. Quantitative data was obtained through structured surveys. These surveys includes questions about social media usage, its influence on their entrepreneurial decisions, and its role in their business operations. The analysis of the collected data was carried out using descriptive statistics, quantitative analytical techniques. The study found that the comparative analysis shows that the challenges and strategies for using social media for business are similar for young entrepreneurs and businesses of all sizes. However, there are some challenges that are unique to young entrepreneurs, such as cyberbullying and privacy concerns.
The study recommended that policymakers, educators, and youth themselves take several actions to maximize the positive impact of social media on youth entrepreneurship. First, educational institutions should incorporate digital literacy and responsible social media usage into their curricula to equip young entrepreneurs with the necessary skills to navigate the online world effectively, and that policymakers should create an enabling environment for youth entrepreneurship, offering financial support, mentorship programs, and easy access to resources to mitigate the financial barriers associated with traditional business startups. They should also establish regulations to protect online privacy and combat cyberbullying.
