THE INFLUENCE OF THE SOCIAL MEDIA ON THE SOCIO-COGNITIVE ADJUSTMENT OF ADOLESCENTS FROM AWKA NORTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF ANAMBRA STATE

Abstract

This study was on the influence of the Social Media on the Socio-cognitive Adjustment of Adolescents from Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State. Two research questions guided the study. The design was descriptive survey. The area of study was Awka North local government area of Anambra State. The population of study includes all the senior secondary year one student (SS1) in public schools in Awka North Local Government area during the 2025/25 academic year. The sample size consisted of 500 students chosen through simple random sampling techniques. The reliability of the instrument was established using split half method and the result obtained was analyzed using Pearson product moment of correlation and the reliability co-efficient (α) was found to be (0.74). Three briefed assistants helped in the distribution and collection of the questionnaires and all the questionnaire items were returned. The data collected were analyzed using mean scores to answer research questions 1 and 2.  Among the findings of the study includes; that social media despite its wealth of advantages has negative influences on the life adjustments of the adolescents. The following recommendations were made and they include; Parents are to regulate the social media usage of their adolescents, they are to censor the contents of the social media information before allowing them usages, counsellors have the task to re-educate both parents and adolescents on proper usage of social media, the communication industry should censor and sanction media agents that are not prudent about the products.