ASSESSMENT OF SOCIAL MEDIA AND ATTENTION SPAN ON TOPICAL ISSUES AMONG YOUTH IN MAKURDI METROPOLIS (JAN. 2024 – JUNE, 2024)

ABSTRACT This study examines the impact of social media usage on the attention span of youths in addressing topical issues in Makurdi Metropolis between January and June 2024. The research explores how the widespread adoption of platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok influences the ability of young individuals to engage with critical societal discussions, focusing on the depth, quality, and consistency of their interactions. Uses and gratification theory was adopted which states that, there is not merely one way that populate uses media. Instead, they believe they are many reasons for using social media as their many users. The population of the study is based on Makurdi metropolis. The study was determined using Taro Yamene formula with the research sample size of 400. The findings revealed that, social media enhances access to information and facilitates real-time engagement with topical issues, it also contributes to fragmented attention spans due to the prevalence of multitasking and the design of algorithms that prioritize brevity and sensationalism. The research further identifies patterns on how social media influences opinion formation, issue prioritization, and the overall cognitive engagement of youths in Makurdi. This study highlights the dual-edged role of social media as both an enabler of civic participation and a potential barrier to deep reflective engagement. Recommendations are made for stakeholders, including educators, policymakers, and social media platforms, to develop strategies that encourage critical consumption of content and promote sustained attention on pressing societal matters.