AN INVESTIGATION ON SOCIAL MEDIA USAGE AND ITS EFFECT ON USER’S MENTAL HEALTH IN NIGERIA

ABSTRACT This study was carried out to examine social media usage and its effect on users’ mental health in Nigeria using youths in Lagos state as a case study.The study was specifically set to determine the extent of social media usage among youths in Lagos state, determine whether there is a significant relationship between social media usage and the mental health of youths, and ascertain the effect of social media experience on the mental health of youths in Lagos state. The survey design was adopted and the simple random sampling techniques were employed in this study. The population size comprise of youths resident in Yaba, Lagos state. In determining the sample size, the researcher conveniently selected 200 respondents and 150 were validated. Self-constructed and validated questionnaire was used for data collection. The collected and validated questionnaires were analyzed using frequency tables. While the hypotheses were tested using Pearson correlation statistical tool, SPSS v23. The result of the findings reveals that there is a high extent of social media usage among youths in Lagos state. Furthermore the study also revealed that the use of social media has caused negative influences on mental health like an increase in anxiety, depression, isolation, and low self-esteem.. Therefore the study recommends that the exercise of safe social and balance use of social media should be encouraged among the youths. To mention but a few.