The Influence of Social Media on the Spiritual Life of Christian Youths in Akwa Ibom State

This study investigates the influence of social media platforms on the spiritual life of Christian youths aged 16 to 28 in Akwa Ibom State, South South Nigeria. Social media has transformed the way young people consume information, relate socially, and engage with religion, yet its impact on personal spiritual formation in the Nigerian context remains inadequately studied. A descriptive survey design is adopted, with data collected from 320 respondents across fifteen churches in Uyo, Eket, and Ikot Ekpene. Structured questionnaires measure the frequency of social media use, types of content consumed, and self-reported indicators of spiritual growth including Bible reading habits, prayer consistency, and church attendance. Findings indicate that social media use is near-universal among respondents and that a significant portion of their religious content consumption occurs online. While many youths report benefiting from online sermons, worship playlists, and devotional content, excessive social media use is associated with reduced attention spans during church services, exposure to theologically misleading content, and diminished personal prayer life. The study recommends that churches develop digital discipleship strategies and provide youth with curated online spiritual resources. It further recommends that parents and youth pastors engage in digital literacy conversations that include a theological framework for responsible online behaviour. Keywords: social media, spiritual life, Christian youth, Akwa Ibom State, digital discipleship