SOCIAL MEDIA AND YOUTH VIOLENCE IN UGEP, CROSS RIVER STATE

This study examined the relationship between social media usage and youth violence in Ugep, Cross River State, Nigeria. The research employed a descriptive survey design with 384 youths aged 15-35 years selected through stratified random sampling from four communities in Ugep. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire with a reliability coefficient of 0.82. Three hypotheses were tested using Pearson Product Moment Correlation and Independent t-test at 0.05 level of significance. Results revealed a significant positive relationship between social media exposure to violent content and aggressive behavior among youths (r = 0.67, p < 0.05). Findings also indicated that 73.2% of respondents spent over 4 hours daily on social media platforms, with 68.5% reporting exposure to violent content. The study concluded that excessive social media use and exposure to violent content significantly contribute to youth violence in Ugep. The study recommended among others that developing community-based digital literacy programs, establishing youth counseling centers, and creating awareness campaigns on responsible social media use could help proffer solution to the menace of youth violence in Nigeria.