CHALLENGES AND NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON THE EDUCATION OF CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS IN THE 21ST CENTURY
Maureen Amaka Azuike
Department of English,
University of Jos.
Email: amakaazuike@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
It is an undeniable fact that social media usage by many young people in the world is limitless. It is also undeniable that a large percentage of social media addicts are adolescents and teenage youths. The aforementioned fact is the reason for a disconnection between the youths, their parents and their classroom activities. Networking on social media is the key to survival in this global age, no doubt, and the internet is extremely useful to all of us. However, the challenges and negative effects of social media on the attitude, behaviour and the education of teenagers and young adults in the 21st century will be the major aim of this study. The study is underpinned by the theory of human behaviour, otherwise known as the Social Learning Theory, which is adopted here to explain the effects of social media on the youths. The Social Learning Theory justifies the fact that the attitudes and behaviours of young people are largely affected by what they have observed or have been exposed to on social media. The findings of this study have established a connection between inappropriate exposure of young people to social media sites and risky-behaviours, corrupt practices and massive failures in examinations.