INFLUENCE OF INSTAGRAM ON ETHNIC BIGOTRY AMONGST UNDERGRADUATES IN ENUGU STATE

This study looks at how Instagram affects ethnic bigotry among university students in Enugu State, Nigeria. While Instagram and other social media platforms help people connect and express themselves, there’s growing worry that they can also spread divisive content and encourage prejudice. This research fills a gap by focusing on Nigeria, where ethnic tensions are a real concern. Using the Technological Determinism Theory, the study suggests that Instagram’s personalized algorithms might actually make things worse by showing users more of the content that matches their existing biases. To find out what’s really happening, we surveyed 395 students from three universities in Enugu: Godfrey Okoye University, the University of Nigeria Enugu Campus, and the Institute of Management and Technology. The survey was done both online and in person. The results were eye-opening. Most students (79%) said they often see ethnically bigoted content on Instagram, and 74% regularly come across comments that are discriminatory. Almost all participants (95%) have seen offensive memes or jokes about ethnicity, and 39% have followed or seen accounts that spread negative messages about certain ethnic groups. However, the data also showed that students didn’t necessarily think Instagram was worse than other social media platforms for this kind of content. In conclusion, Instagram does play a big role in exposing students to ethnic bigotry, which can shape how they see people from other groups. This highlights the risks of algorithm-driven content in a diverse society like Nigeria and shows why it’s important for young people to use social media responsibly. The findings are important for social media companies and policymakers who want to reduce the negative impact of these platforms.