SOCIAL MEDIA AND MARITAL CONFLICTS IN NIGERIA: A STUDY OF MARRIED WOMEN IN FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC BAUCHI

This study has been undertaken on social media and marital conflicts in Nigeria: A study of married women in Federal Polytechnic Bauchi. The study aims is to find out the extent of the married women’s usage of social media in tertiary institutions in Bauchi; to identify the kind of problems social media bring to marital relationships among married women in tertiary institutions in Bauchi; to proffer measures through which conflicts associated with the use of social media among married women can be reduced. The study was guided by conflict theory. Survey method was used. Population of this study comprises 102 academic staff and 110 non-academic staff in Federal Polytechnic Bauchi. In gathering the data, questionnaire was used. Data of the study was analyzed using descriptive statistics. The major finding of this study showed the frequency of social media use among respondents varies significantly. The largest group (41.7%) reports using social media daily for about 2 hours, mostly in the evenings. A third of the respondents (33.3%) use social media almost daily, spending 1-2 hours per day. A smaller but notable proportion (25%) engages in excessive use, spending 5-6 hours daily on social media. The finding also revealed that, the trust issues related to social media usage are prevalent among the respondents. A substantial portion (29.2%) reported that social media had led to trust issues, but these were resolved through discussion. Another 29.2% indicated that a private message from an old friend caused discomfort, leading to a conversation about boundaries. The findings of this study led the researcher to conclude that, as social media continues to integrate into our daily life, its impact on marital relationships will remain a critical area of study, particularly in contexts like Nigeria, where cultural values and modern technology intersect in complex ways.