Social Media and Promotion of National Values amongst Youths for Sustainable National Development: Perspective from Bonny Island, Rivers State

Abstract

This study examined the application of social media in thepromotion of national values among Nigerian Youths for Sustainable National Development. The core objectives of the study is to
determine the potential of social media in promoting national values among Nigerian youths. Three objectives were raised to guide the study; and the technological determinism theory was
adopted as the theoretical framework. The study adopted the survey research design with a structured questionnaire as the primary instrument for data collection. The study’s population
was 346 registered youth members of Bonny youths Federation in Bonny Island. Using the census sampling technique, the entire population of 346 was taken as the sample size of the
study, and mean criterion was used to analyse the data collected via the questionnaire. Findings revealed a widespread utilization of social media among youths, and that, social media
significantly influences the behaviour of the youths. Inference from the data further revealed that, social media are highly viable in promoting national values that can engender attitudinal change among Nigerian Youths for utmost participation in national development.The study, among other recommendations, suggested strategies will enhance the use of social media in fostering national values among youths and also, emphasized the need for the government to strategically harness the vast potential of social media as a tool for promoting national values among Nigerian youths for sustainable national development.