The Effect of Social Media on Adolescent Social Behaviour in Enugu State, South East Nigeria

Social media platforms have fundamentally altered communication patterns and socialisation processes among Nigerian adolescents, with implications for identity development, interpersonal relationships, and exposure to risk. This study examines the effects of social media use on adolescent social behaviour in Enugu State, with focus on secondary school students in Enugu Urban and Udi local government areas. A descriptive survey design is employed, with 120 adolescents selected through multistage sampling and surveyed through structured questionnaires. Frequencies, percentages, and chi-square statistics are applied in data analysis. The study finds that social media use is associated with increased peer connectivity, enhanced access to information, and greater self-expression among adolescents. Simultaneously, respondents report exposure to cyberbullying, explicit content, addiction-like usage patterns, and declining face-to-face social interaction. Social workers in school and community settings are rarely equipped with digital literacy knowledge to guide adolescents in responsible social media use. The study recommends incorporating digital wellbeing education into school social work programmes, training social workers in online risk assessment, and developing community-based digital literacy interventions for adolescents and their parents. Keywords: social media, adolescents, social behaviour, Enugu State, digital wellbeing