CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Interpersonal relationship is the acts of friendship that occurs between two or more
people in the society in which the school is part of it. To establish a strong hold
relationship among students, the students most often adopt social medium or media
to achieve this. Experience over the years has shown that students use and depend
excessively on the use of social media mostly to express and to convey ideas or
facts during interpersonal interaction process.

The internet is not only meant to search for information but as a means of
connecting with people, to make new friends and to reconnect to old friends that
one might have lost his/her connect.

The Internet has enabled new forms of social interaction; this is due to its
widespread usability and access. In most third world countries use of the internet
has been made even more accessible by mobile phones. Most people use the
internet to access news, weather and sports reports, to plan and book vacations and
to find out more about their interests. Today people are using the internet mostly to
interact on social media, they chat, message, share photos and stay in touch with
friends and relatives worldwide. Among the new forms of social interactions that
have been enabled by the internet are social networking sites. Social network sites
(SNSs) such as Friendster, CyWorld, Face book and MySpace allow individuals to
present themselves, articulate their social networks, and establish or maintain
connections with others. Participants may use the sites to interact with people they
already know offline or to meet new people.

Each user of a SNS has a profile so as to enable him /her to be able to link up with
other users. Social networking sites allow users to share ideas, pictures, posts,
activities, events, and interests with people in their network. (Wikipedia).Face
book, for example enables its users to present themselves in an online profile,
accumulate "friends" who can post comments on each other's pages, and view each
other's profiles. Face book members can also join virtual groups based on
common interests, see what classes they have in common, and learn each others'
hobbies, interests, musical tastes, and romantic relationship status through the
profiles. With technology being part of our everyday lives, social media has been
adopted by students as a means of communication and interactive digitally
mediated technologies that facilitate the creation or sharing/exchange of
information, ideas, career, interests, and other forms of expression through virtual
communities and networks.

Ahmad Mushaq (2018)says the emergence they do not call for advanced internet
knowledge or experience and are made up of a wide array of different formats and
topic. This means that anyone can connect through social media. The types of
social media that are commonly used among the undergraduate students of
Moshood Abiola Polytechnic are facebook, Instagram, Whatsapp, snapchat, Emo,
tweeter and so on. Akinbode (2018), Amore (2019), Sudha and Kautta (2016)
agree that social media have attracted considerable attention among students and
instructors due to the increasing popularity among students and the effect it has on
interpersonal relationship. Due to their nature of allowing people to share common
interests, photos and linking up acquaintances, people are spending many hours on
the social networking sites. The most affectedgroup is the youths and especially
higher institution who are in their youth age. This research looks into the impact of
the social networking sites on interpersonal relationships among undergraduate
students.
1.2 Statement of the Problem

Social media as a means of interpersonal relationship growing rapidly among the

students of higher institution in Nigeria. It is related to many of the easy to use
services that anybody can use to create interpersonal relationship and to internet
online such as Facebook, Whatsapp, Tweeter, Instagram e.t.c. There have been
various studies on the use of social media among students in Nigeria. This study is
set to explore the effects of Social Media on interpersonal relationship among the
undergraduate students of Delta State Polytechnic, Otefe Oghara.

1.3 Research Objectives

i. To examine the positive effects of social media on interpersonal

relationship among Delta State Polytechnic, Otefe Oghara students
ii. To assess the negative effects of social media on interpersonal
relationship among the Delta State Polytechnic, Otefe Oghara students
iii. To account for the commonly used social media for interpersonal
relationship among Delta State Polytechnic, Otefe Oghara students.
iv. To investigate the impact of demographic variables such as age, gender,
and field of study on the perception and utilization of social media
platforms for interpersonal communication among undergraduate
students at Delta State Polytechnic, Otefe Oghara.

1.4 Research Questions

i. What are the positive effects of Social Media on interpersonal

relationship among Delta State Polytechnic, Otefe Oghara students?
ii. What are the negative effects of Social Media on interpersonal
relationship among Delta State Polytechnic, Otefe Oghara students?
 iii. What are the commonly used social media among Delta State
Polytechnic, Otefe Oghara students?
iv. How do demographic factors such as age, gender, and field of study
influence the perception and utilization of social media platforms for
interpersonal communication among undergraduate students at Delta
State Polytechnic, Otefe Oghara?

1.5 Significance of the study

Inter-personal relationship with social media is preferred greatly nowadays around

the world. It is also common among university students. Tertiary students prefer
new technological devices more when compared with the older generations.
Especially, Facebook, twitter, Instagram, whatsApp etc are preferred mostly by the
new generation. Determinative role of new generations is important for the
communication habits of the future generations. Therefore, inter-relationship
choice of tertiary students as new generation will indicate communication devices
and communication channels of the future. This study will raise the awareness on
the positive and negative effects of Social Media on the interpersonal relationship
among students. It will also state some of the commonly used Social Media
platforms and encourage the undergraduate students of Delta State Polytechnic,
Otefe oghara to use the Social Media positively.

1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The research delves into the ways in which students leverage social media
platforms to forge and sustain interpersonal connections. Social media emerges as
a pivotal tool for student communication and interaction.

Acknowledging the transformative role of the internet, the study recognizes its
capacity to introduce novel modes of social engagement, notably through popular
social networking sites such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. These platforms
afford users opportunities to showcase themselves, articulate their social circles,
and cultivate relationships.

1.7 LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

This study will be limited to the undergraduate students of Moshood Abiola

Polytechnic in the department of Mass Communication, Computer Science and
Accountancy. It is just limited to find the positive and negative effects of Social
Media on the interpersonal relationship.

1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMS

Interpersonal Relationship: Refers to the acts of friendship occurring between

two or more individuals within the societal context, emphasizing the role of the
school as part of this social structure.

Social Media: Digitally mediated technologies and platforms that facilitate

communication, interaction, and the exchange of information, ideas, interests, and
other forms of expression among individuals through virtual communities and
networks.

Social Networking Sites (SNSs): Online platforms such as Facebook, Instagram,

Twitter, and others that allow individuals to present themselves, articulate their
social networks, and establish or maintain connections with others. Users can share
ideas, pictures, posts, activities, events, and interests within their network.
Demographic Factors: Characteristics of individuals within a population, such as
age, gender, and field of study, which may influence their behaviors, preferences,
and interactions with social media platforms and interpersonal relationships.

Positive Effects of Social Media: Benefits or advantages derived from the use of
social media platforms, such as enhanced communication, expanded social
networks, and opportunities for self-expression and connection with others.

Negative Effects of Social Media: Adverse consequences or drawbacks associated

with the use of social media platforms, including issues like cyberbullying,
misinformation, addiction, and negative impacts on mental health and interpersonal
relationships.

Perception and Utilization: Refers to how individuals perceive and engage with
social media platforms for interpersonal communication, encompassing their
attitudes, beliefs, behaviors, and patterns of usage.
 CHAPTER TWO

2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 THE CONCEPT OF SOCIAL MEDIA

Social media is media for social interaction. It is the use of web based and mobile
technologies to turn communication into interactive dialogue. The term social
media is broad and it covers arange of websites. There are basically six kinds of
social media i.e. social networks, blogs, wikis, podcasts, forum, content
communities and micro blogging.

2.1.2 SOCIAL MEDIA AND ITS TYPES

Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary 8th Edition defines social media as forms
of electronic communication such as websites for social networking and
microblogging. They are interactive internet based applications or mediated
technologies that facilitate the creation and sharing information, ideas, career
interests, and other forms of expression through virtual communities and networks.

Social media also facilitate the development of online social networks by

connecting a user’s profile with those of other individuals. As users engage with
these electronic services, they create highly interactive platforms through which
individuals, communities, and organizations can share, co-create, discuss,
participate and modify user generated content or self-curated content posted online.

Amore, K.P. (2019) postulates that some of the most popular Social Media
websites include facebook, Wechat, Instagram, Twitter, LinkdenIn, Telegram,
TikTok, Pinterest. He further categorizes them into: Internet browsers and search
engines (explorer, Mozilla, firefox, opera mini, google chrone), websites and blogs
(WWW), online video/ audio streams (YouTube, Itunes, Boomplay, Soundcloud),
text messaging (Whatsapp, Telegram, Truecaller), Email (Yahoo, Google,
Hotmail), Online communities and for a (FAcebook, Nairaland, Twitter) Internet
telephony (Skype, Whatsapp, IMO) and so on.

According to Adegbite (2019), we are in the digital age. The digital age refers to
the present time of information technology or the new media. Techopedia explains
new media or technology as a catch-all term used for various kinds of electronic
communications that are conceivable due to innovation in computer technology.
This is in contrast to old media, which includes newspapers, magazines, books,
television and other such non-interactive media.

The following are the social media most used by students to establish interpersonal
relationship:

Facebook: Facebook is a website which allows user who sign up for free profiles
to connect with friends, work colleagues or people they don't know online it allows
users to share pictures, music, videos, and articles, as well as their own thoughts
and opinions with however many people they like

Whatapp: is a cross platform instant messaging application that allows iPhone,

blackberry, Android, windows phone and Nokia smartphone users to exchange
text, image, video, and audio messages for free

Instagram: is a social networking app which allows it's user to share pictures and
videos with their friends...

Twitter: is a social media site and it's primary purpose is to connect people and
allow people to share their thoughts with a big audience

2.1.3 HISTORY OF SOCIAL MEDIA

The term social media was first known in 2004 – 2005, when the first web based
social networking site Geocities, was founded. However, social networking sites
really hit when Friendster launched in 2002, and a year later LinkedIn and
MySpace were launched. Then, the most popular site, Facebook, was launched in
2004, followed by another well-known social media technology, Twitter, in 2006.
Later, in 2007 American Online (AOL) instant messenger and Sixdegrees.com
were launched; Facebook, twitter, whatsapp, and instagram has become the most
successful social media because of its features platform that set itself apart from
other social media, and that made the word, social media, become well known
(Wikipedia 2020).

2.1.4 TECHNOLOGY AND THE YOUTHS

Technological forces like those of evolutions are strong forces that have shaken up
everything, especially the internet in all spheres of personal, social and
professional human life. Right from the mere ways of interaction to the running of
huge systems, we are utilizing the conveniences provided by the existence of
internet.‘ (Ahmed and Qazi 2011). Technology is changing the way that people
interact and communicate. New technologies are providing more ways to
communicate with others and especially among the youth. Although some
researchers argue that these technologies are just a new medium for youths to use
and that their patterns of relationships and quality of communication remain the
same as with other forms of communication, since they treat the online
environment as just another place to interact with already existing friends (Lee &
Sun, 2009), questions are still arising on the impact of these new technologies on
the traditional modes of communication. The consequences of online
communication especially through SNSs on interpersonal relationships among the
youth and as this study aims to find out, among teenagers. Social networking sites,
as well as email, instant messaging, blogging, and online journals are
among the technological changes that have completely changed the way that
people interact and gather information. They can be classified under
communication technology. Communication technology is a term that describes
types of technology that are used for communication.

2.1.5 INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIP AND SOCIAL NETWORK

Interpersonal personal relationship is also known as a close relationship. This kind

of relationship is commonly fond within the family and small circle of best friends.
It is an association between two or more people that is based on inference, love,
solidarity, interactions or some other type of social commitment.

Akinbode and Ajeyalemi (2007) reveals that interpersonal relationships grow and
improve dradially, as people get to know each other and become closer
emotionally, or they gradually deteriorate as people drift apart, move on with their
lives and form new relationship with others.

Studies show that if we have strong, caring relationships with others, we are more
likely to have strong and caring relationships with others, we are more likely to be
health and love longer. Poor relationships with family and friends promote
depression, drug abuse, weight problems, and other mental health problems.

Students in tertiary institutions establish interpersonal relationship the moment

they meet each other or one another. They exchange contacts and get connected
through any mean of social media and develop other traits along with the
relationship for strength and stability.

Below are some of the interpersonal relationships the undergraduate students

established through the social media:

- Rapport: Students chat with anyone they feel comfortable with especially if
they are at east with the other persons. This can take a time to develop.
- Empathy: This refers to the ability to see the world through another person’s
eyes, understanding his/her feelings and actions
 - Trust: When you trust another person you expect acceptance and support
from him/her.
- Mental expectations: These are seen as relationship grow; partners should
have mutual expectations for it. The relationship should be handed toward
the same purpose or goals for both people.
- Flexibility: Social Media allows for flexibility and changes through plans
made or developed by friends.
- Uniqueness: Social Media makes the interpersonal relationship among
students to stand out and to be different in some ways.
- Interdependence: It makes one to feel concerned about someone else’s life
through chatting and posting

There some facts affecting interpersonal relationship among students. They are

- Communication: Feelings must be expressed and reciprocated in

relationships. Individuals need to communicate with each other effectively
for better understanding.
- Compatibility: Individuals with the same goals do wonderfully in life. There
should not be conflict or misunderstanding in a relationship.
- Honesty: Do not say lies, be honest and hide nothing from your friend.
Transparency is important in relationships.
- Time: Friends must have adequate time to know each other better. Time is
an important factor in interpersonal relationship.

2.1.6 SMS and Relationships

The Social Media Examiner (2010) describes four main ways that SMS can
potentially change relationships by putting the emphasis on creating and
maintaining intimate virtual relationships. Virtual relationships as used in this
paper are the type of friendships that exists on the internet, and are seldom or never
shared with face-to-face interactions and therefore do not include nonverbal
communication cues (Froding & Peterson, 2012). The first waySMS site usage has
changed the style of relationships people engage is by allowing people to connect
with a larger base of people more quickly. SMS users also tend to overestimate
their level of intimacy and responsibility in maintaining these virtual
relationships(Jain, 2010). Virtual relationships are also susceptible to the SMS
contagion effect in which users adopt behaviors, attitudes and beliefs of other users
as their own reality. Lastly, SMS users may compare their relationships and
successes in life to other users lives, and this can have a positive or negative effect
on the psyche (Jain, 2010).

Intimate relationships and casual relationships are compiled of different

dimensions. Intimate relationships share a higher degree of trust, emotional
support,time commitment, communication, self- disclosures and mutual knowledge
than casual relationships do (Sanchez, 2014). According to Froding and Peterson
(2012) the modern reading of Aristotle’s theory of friendship,argues that virtual
relationships do not even qualify as genuine friendships. The Aristotle theory is
interpreted to state: to be a genuine friendship it must contain human interaction,
be virtuous, moral, and mutually recognized with a quality of love and admiration
within the friendship(Froding & Peterson, 2012).

2.1.7 Interaction Methods

SMS usage and communication influences the type of interaction methods of

socialization within a person’s environment. It is now a practice to communicate
and resolve conflicts through SMS communication in everyday life. In the past
these were responsibilities that were obligated to interpersonal skills conducted
through face-to face interaction and communication. Face-to-face interaction
relationships are characterized as a verbal social exchange of knowledge or
information that occurs between two people (Nugent, 2013). An example of this
would-be people talking in a verbal conversation. Without face-to-face interaction
there is a possibility of valuable nonverbal communication cues going undetected
or simply being disregarded, which may cause a distance or misunderstanding
during communication. According to the online version of the Collins English
Dictionary (2017), nonverbal communication cues entail things such as the
expressions on the face, arm movements, a body’s stance, or the tone of voice
being used and these aid in indicating how a person feels about something short of
using words.Much of the education on nonverbal communication is learned in
home environments by relatives or other parties with significant face-to-face
interactions which if effected then impacts the developmental process of the future
generations.

The home is an important factor in learning social and cultural values for families.
The role of the computer and the Internet within the home can have an influence on
the intellectual development of children and adolescents. This can also prepare
them for a role in life in which technology plays an important contribution.Elisa
wrote in an investigation regarding family socialization strategies, that the
traditional evenings of sitting around the dinner table as a family and telling
stories, that in history traditionally contributed in the aspects of forming a common
bond and healthy family relationships, are now gone due to the saturation of media
and technology use in the home (2009). Without this example of a face-to-face
relationship and interaction there is no place for future generations to learn the
social cues needed to be proficient in today’s society. The role of the computer
and the Internet within the home can have an influence on the intellectual
development of children and adolescents which can also prepare them for a role in
life in which technology plays an important contribution of how to communicate,
self-express and entertain (Plowman, McPake, & Stephen, 2010). This is argued
by Arizona State University professors, Eisenberg and Valiente, who state children
will model the behavior that they frequently observe and encounter through adults.
Honesty and lying are examples that are commonly influenced by parents, but
positively displayed prosocial behaviors of high moral judgement, such as empathy
and sharing will also have a great influence on their children (Moore, 2015).

2.2 THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

This study is anchored on the Agenda Setting Theory of the press. According to
Elozonam (2019), Agenda setting describes the "ability (of the news media) to
influence the importance placed on the topics of the public agenda". The theory
suggests that the media has the ability to shape public opinion by determining what
issues are given the most attention, and has been widely studied and applied to
various forms of media. The study of agenda-setting describes the way media
attempts to influence viewers, and establish a hierarchy of news prevalence.
Nations judged to be endowed with more political power receive higher media
exposure. The agenda-setting by media is driven by the media's bias on things such
as politics, economy and culture, etc. The evolution of agenda-setting and laissez-
faire components of communication research encouraged a fast pace growth and
expansion of these perspectives. Agenda-setting has phases that need to be in a
specific order in order for it to succed.
2.3 EMPERICAL REVIEW

A study conducted by Kraut, Scherlis, Mukhopadhyay, Manning, &Kiesler,

measuring the impact of social and psychological involvement regarding Internet
usage and well-being, found a relationship between the greater usage of the
Internet and the declines in the communication between family members within a
home(1996).This study further suggested that Internet usage can result in the
reduction of family communication and face-to-face interaction (Kraut et al.,
1996). A different study conducted byKraut, Kielser, Boneva, Cummings,
Helgeson, & Crawford, found that high Internet usage, for communication
purposes, was connected to low levels of communication in the home and also
increased the feelings of loneliness and depression(2002).Plowman et al.,
(2010)suggests that technology can have a negative impact on the social
interactions within the home, and references (Palmer, 2007) regarding modern
culture creating a toxic technology driven atmosphere which can increase the risk
of social isolation, limit linguistics, and increase obesity.

Research conducted by Bovill and Livingstone (2001) argues that excessive media
usage is leading adolescents and children to spend large portions of their time in
the bedrooms instead of family or communal areas of the home. This in turn is
causing a more individualized and socially excluded generation who is spending
less time with familymembers within the home and causing a negative impact on
communication and social interaction skills (Bovill & Livingstone, 2001).

SMS site usage can be an activity that consumes time that could be otherwise spent
with family members. Mesch (2006) argued that Internet use at home is positively
associated with family conflicts and distances people from communication and
social interaction within the family structure. Studies conducted by Mesch (2006)
showed that daily frequency of low Internet usage for teens showed a more
positively relationship with family members and friends. Adolescents also reported
that Internet usage does not improve their relationships with parents and it also
consumes time that could be spent with family members (Mesch, 2006). It is also
observed by Mesch (2006) that families who devote time together in shared
activities enjoy a higher quality of communication within the family.

We are among the times of multi-tasking. SMS use contributes to a world where
individuals are always elsewhere by being preoccupied from the social and
physical presence of the here and now, by what may be a more attractive target on
SMS (Wallis, 2010).

2.4 SUMMARY

Social media, comprising various online platforms like social networks, blogs, and
microblogging sites, enables interactive communication and information sharing
within virtual communities. Popular platforms include Facebook, Instagram,
Twitter, and TikTok. The digital age has transformed communication patterns,
especially among youth, who often use social media for interpersonal interactions.
Interpersonal relationships, influenced by factors like trust and communication, are
increasingly established through platforms like WhatsApp and Instagram. Social
media has altered interaction styles and socialization patterns, leading to the
emergence of virtual relationships. The Agenda Setting Theory explains how
media shapes public opinion, while studies suggest a link between excessive
internet usage and declines in family communication and well-being.