ABSTRACT

The study investigated Perceived influence of social media on interpersonal relationship amongst In-school adolescents in Umuahia South Local Government Area, Abia State, Nigeria. The study adopted a correlational survey research design. Four research questions and corresponding hypotheses guided the study. Review of the literature was done under conceptual framework, theoretical framework, empirical studies, and summary of related literature. The population of the study was 3,900 SS11 students in (13) thirteen public secondary schools in Umuahia South Local Government Area. Using simple random technique sample size of 250 SS11 in-school adolescents was drawn from (5) five sampled schools in the (13) thirteen public secondary schools. 31 items questionnaire titled ‘Social Media Interpersonal Relationship Questionnaire’ was used for data collection. The instrument was validated by three experts, one from Educational Measurement and Evaluation Department, Curriculum and Instruction Department, and the Department of Psychology and Counselling. The overall internal consistency reliability coefficient for the SMIRQ instrument was 0.83 analyzed using Cronbach Alpha Statistic. Similarly, the overall stability reliability coefficient for the SMIRQ instrument was 0.82 analyzed using Pearson Product Moment Coefficient Correlation. Research questions were answered using Pearson Product Moment Correlation, while hypotheses were tested using Simple Linear Regression at 0.05 level of significance. Results revealed among others that In-school adolescents were exposed to social media to a very high extent and the patterns of the usage of social media was for entertainment, download music, videos, and chat with friends, but disagreed that it does not take much of their time than any another activity nor willingly to voice anything about their personal life. There was no significant difference between the exposure, pattern, usage and benefits of social media on the interpersonal relationship amongst In-school adolescent. It was recommended that parents, and authorities should monitor and regulate In-school adolescent on the kind of social media they are exposed to and for what purpose they use them.  Government should make a legislation on the age limit that will own a phone so as to avoid using them in wrong patterns. Teachers’ and school counsellors should regularly advice In-school adolescents on the proper way social media could influence their building quality relationships to avoid abuse. In addition, Researchers in education should carry out more studies on different ways social media could be used to build quality interpersonal relationship that could be beneficial to Inschool adolescents.