Moral Effects of Social Media on the Prosperity of Youths in F.C.E. Zaria
MORAL EFFECTS OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON THE POSTERITY OF
CHRISTIAN YOUTH IN FEDERAL COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, ZARIA
Blessing Chinwe Umeh
Department of Christian Religious Studies,
Federal College of Education, Zaria
umehchinwe82@gmail.com
Abstract
Social media have become part and parcel of every-day-life of people in this 21st century. It has
made the world a global village hence increased the risk of addiction in the life of the youth.
Youth are abreast with the happenings of the world in the comfort of their homes. Though
churches and believers alike make use of social media to evangelise, access Christian literatures
but majority of Christian youth have become engrossed in it that their moral life has become
affected by the uncensored images, crimes, drugs that are aired on the internet. The paper
examines the moral effects of social media on Christian youth in Federal College of Education
Zaria. Survey research design was employed while stratified and purposive sampling techniques
were used to generate the population of the study. The paper thus made wide spectrum
recommendations that would make lasting impact on the posterity of Christian youth in Federal
college of Education, Nigeria.
Keywords: morality, social media and posterity.
Introduction
The advancement in technology in this 21st century has reshaped all human activities. In today’s
dealing, nothing has exerted direct impact on the lives of men and women, youth or old, farmers
and teachers alike, students or working class, believers or unbelievers such as the social media.
The growth of technology propelled by the emergent of the internet led to what is generally
referred to as the social media. Youths who are seen to be predominantly the users of internet are
basically engaged in social communication. Their interaction has altered their life style, values,
principles, norms, dreams as well as their aspiration. Social media has broken the barriers into
our homes thus, the cherished values of self-control, greetings, honesty, modesty in dressing
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Moral Effects of Social Media on the Prosperity of Youths in F.C.E. Zaria
religion, humility and forgiveness has been short-changed with cyber bullying, fraud and antisocial behaviours. Christianity as a religion has a major responsibility to reach out to the youth,
telling them of the Good News of Salvation which is the major commission given to the disciples
before Jesus ascended into heaven. It is expedient to note at this juncture that social media which
should be used to propagate the message of Salvation has been captured by unbelievers to sell
their evil merchandise to their teaming users.
Crimes and uncensored images have taken over the internet thereby making Christian youth to be
greatly affected morally by the negative use of the social media. Social media is one among the
numerous means that help man to interact and communicate online. In time past, it was seen as a
western culture. Cambridge English Dictionary (2019) defines social media as a website and
computer programs that allows people to communicate and share information on internet using a
computer or mobile phone. It is the facilities and tools that reduce the world to a global village;
websites and applications that enable users to create, share contents and participate in social
networking (Morgan, 2016). These applications and interactions between individuals as well are
predominantly used by youth are predominantly the users of the internet. Facebook, WhatsApp,
Twitter, Instagram, Googletalk and so on are examples of social networking sites that help
individuals to communicate with family, friends and internet friends. Dimka (2014) argued that
the social media platform has become the youth’s daily diary. Youth have made the social media
to be the rule instead of being the tool such that it has become a battle ground for putting forth
ideologies to friends and followers alike. It is a social structure made up of
individuals/organizations called “node”. This node is connected by one or more specific types of
interdependency such as friendship, financial exchange, sexual relationship, common interest,
knowledge or relationship of beliefs (Asemah and Edogoh, 2012).
Social media has become a part of life for many young people especially the Christian youth.
McGillivrary (2015) also argued that Christian youth find it difficult to reflect on the overall
effects of social media on their lives. Lots of Christian youth associates social media websites
with positive outcome but addiction to its use give room to luring youth to online sexual
predators, cyber bullying, uncensored images/alcohol, tobacco and violence. Amidst several
benefits of social media, it has given rise to various moral issues, fuel crisis in the polity and
used as means of carrying illegal activities in Federal College of Education, Zaria. The place of
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Moral Effects of Social Media on the Prosperity of Youths in F.C.E. Zaria
morality in the institution in recent time has come under serious threat. The moral heritage that
binds Christians as the call out ones has been threatened as a result of the effects of social media.
Morality is a Latin word “mores” and it means habit, conduct, custom or manner of living. It is
synonymous with the term “ethics”. This word is used to denote generally accepted code of
conduct acceptable in any given society or sub-group (Ezekwu, 2008). Morality appeals to the
sense of humanity and as such very relevant for the overall wellbeing of the entire members of
any society. It is therefore, that principles that defines right or wrong, good or bad
attitude/behaviour. In the scripture, some moral code of conduct such as hard work, abstinence
from sexual activities, respect for elders and the dignity of labour, moderation in the
consumption of alcohol, descent dressing and respect for human life is enthrone. Hence, any
conduct that is not in consonance with the norms accepted by certain cultures is seen as threat to
the human race thus regarded as unacceptable and immoral. The abandonment and unchallenged
moral principles of behaviour in Federal College of Education, Zaria has led to moral decadence
or degeneration of moral values in this institution of higher learning. One of the systems of
expressing morality is normative ethical system. This system proposed what is called the
“Golden Rule”. The golden rule stipulates that one should treat others the way he/she should
want to be treated. But the opposite seems to be the case here. Phoenix (2018) stated that the
social media to a large extent has influenced morality of Christian youth in the sense that some
youth seem indifferent to the expected standard of behaviour required of the followers of Christ.
Posterity on the other hand is a Latin word “Posteritas” which means “behind”, to come after in
time”. It is a noun and it implies the descendants of a person (English Oxford Dictionaries,
2019). Biblical account in Genesis 12:7 states that the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him
“This is the country that I am going to give to your descendants”. This goes to show that
Christian youth will enjoy the promised made to Abraham if they live a morally and upright life
so that the blessings of Abraham will be theirs. The effects of social media have so enslaved
some of the youth to the point that they find it difficult to pray or read the word of God, but find
pleasure in chatting and surfing on the internet.
Thus, the thrust of this paper is to examine the effects of social media on the moral values and
the posterity of Christian youth in Federal College of Education, Zaria.
Moral Effects of Social Media on Christian Youth
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Moral Effects of Social Media on the Prosperity of Youths in F.C.E. Zaria
The advancement in technology in this era has reshaped all human activities. These technologies facilitate
social interactions, make possible collaboration and enable deliberations across stakeholders. The
tendency for Christian youth to engage in the use of these vast platforms is not a problem in anyways but
some moral issues have arisen from the abuse and obsession of these networks or platform. The effects of
social media can be said to be overwhelming. Abaire (2016) asserted that social media makes an
individual to understand that he/she is not alone in the faith. This is because through this platform,
Christian youth can share the message of the Gospel where he deems it fit or appropriate. To him, a
Christian youth can ask personal questions on the Christian faith with a fellow Christian friend who had
undergone same challenges the other person is going through, thus come out victoriously (Mt. 20:19.)
Dimka (2015) argued that the social media has evolved to become user friendly, personalised and easily
accessible across different platforms. It is too personalized that it has become part of one’s life. Believers
see this platform as an instrument of evangelism. For him a Christian can employ any of these social
networks such as twitter, facebook, whatsapp, instagram to mention but few to advance the kingdom of
God online. Instead of ideal chats and fruitless surfing, a Christian youth can share simple word such as
“for God so Love the World” (Jn. 3:16) to those on his contact group or post a video that can engage
people in the area of interest as regards Gods perspective.
Social group has bridged the gap among various Christian groups all over the world. For instance, the
need for intercession has a way of being rebroadcasted through one of this platform thus meeting the
needs of Christian organizations, individuals as well as group. McGillivary (2015) opines that social
media has helped youth especially the Christian youth to have easy access to resource materials online.
Topics that are educationally inclined are made easy through surfing on the internet. Teachers on their
part collaborate and communicate with colleagues and students alike to pass vital information or
assignment to their students. Equally, social media sites have helped to create jobs for teaming Christian
youth who diligently employed the benefits of these platforms to make extra income. Individuals are
empowered to change themselves as well as their communities through these sites by mobilizing and
disseminating information that speaks against injustices ranging from politics, religion or economics.
He continued by saying that amidst all the benefits derived from these sites stated above, pornography,
sex provoking clips and songs are the regulars that we see on our television sets. Young Christians are
found to engage in sexing via phone call. The internet is clouded with sites that youth watch streaming
uncensored videos while lectures are going on. Christian youth’s phones have become a home of X-rated
images. In I Thessalonians 4:3-4, the Bible warned Christians in strong terms that believers should abstain
from fornication. Youth phones, iphones have turn out to be a god to many hence many prefer to carry
their phones to church rather than the Bible. Ezekwu (2008) in support of McGillivary (2015) argued that
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Moral Effects of Social Media on the Prosperity of Youths in F.C.E. Zaria
social media has made the Christian youth to be inept. This is because youth’s life revolves around this
platform hence many of them answer and respond to chats in the church, classroom, kitchen, and road or
while driving. Some Christian youth aid in propagating violence, immorality and the likes as a result of
the influence of social media. The goal of socialization or relationship whether with humans/electronic is
influence. Christian youth must be aware that he/she is constantly influenced by what he sees or hears.
For instance, youth mode of dressing, speaking and conduct to a large extent has been affected by what
they see on social media. Instead of upholding the cherished values in African cultures, they have allowed
the infiltration of western values to dominate their life styles rather than reverence for the Lord (Ps. 19:911).
The negative effects of social media cannot be over emphasized. Issues of examination malpractice,
employee’s low productivity, loss of privacy, vulnerability to crimes; drops in student’s grades as a result
of poor time management, scam, hacking of peoples account and other security problems are common via
social media. On Facebook, one read about ladies pants been stolen for ritual purposes and pastor coming
out on this platform to confess publicly of committed adultery shows that people no longer have shame,
hence they washed their dirty linen outside. Habu (2016) stated that Christian youth have adopted the use
of social media to perpetrate all manner of atrocity. Through these platform, some youth have scam
unsuspecting individual to join secret cults in other to make quick money or arrogate power to
themselves. Thus many of our teaming youth have throne caution to the wind by abandoning the
cherished moral values given to them by their parents to lust after the world by indulging in some
ungodly acts that will not be beneficiary to them. The generation of the Christian youth is thus threatened
by all the negative effects of the social media.
Objectives of the Study
i Examine the concept of social media
ii Establish the type of social media platform Christian religious youth prefer
iii Examine the moral effects of social media on Christian youth in FCE, Zaria
Research Questions
i What is social media?
ii What type of social media platform do Christian youth of Federal College of
prefer?
iii What are the moral effects of social media on Christian youth in FCE, Zaria?
Education Zaria
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Moral Effects of Social Media on the Prosperity of Youths in F.C.E. Zaria
Method
The method adopted in this research is survey research design for a population of about 100,000 Christian
youth comprising of NCE and B.Ed. Out of this figure 38,000 was estimated to be the number of
Christian youth of Federal College of Education, Zaria. A sample representative of all the Christian youth
of the college will be selected. Two hundred questionnaires were randomly administered. The vetted
questionnaire is divided into two sections; “A” was for the bio-data which comprises of personal
information of the respondents while section “B” was on the topic: “Moral effects of social media on the
posterity of Christian youth in Federal College of Education, Zaria”. The reasons for employing of this
instrument are because it guarantees free responses and anonymity of the respondents. The data collected
was subjected to analysis using frequency and percentages.
Likert scale
The rating average is calculated as follows, where:
w = weight of answer choice
x = response count for answer choice
Total = No of respondents
x1w1 + x2w2 + x3w3 ... xnwn
Total
The level of each item is determined by the following formula (highest point on Likert scale – Lowest in
Likert scale)/the number of levels used
(4-1) / 4 = 0.75
Range
Level
1 - 1.75
Strongly Disagree
1.76 - 2.51
Disagree
2.52- 3.27
Agree
3.28- 4.03
Strongly Agree
Results
Out of the two hundred (200) copies of the questionnaires administered, it was retrieved. Four (4) point
Likert scale of A, SA, D and SD ratings applied in measurement of expressed opinions were employed.
The results of the study are presented below:
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Moral Effects of Social Media on the Prosperity of Youths in F.C.E. Zaria
Table 1: Age of Respondents
Age
Frequency
Percentage%
18-25
153
76.5%
26-30
27
13.5%
31-35
20
10%
36-40
-
-%
41and above
-
-%
Total
200
100%
Source: FCE Zaria Records Office
From the table above, 153 respondents are from ages 18-25, 27 are between the ages of 26-30 while the
remaining 20 representing 10% of the total respondents are within the ages of 31-35.
Table 2: Status of Respondents
Status
Frequency
Percentages%
Single
195
97.5%
Married
5
2.5%
Widow
-
-%
Widower
-
-%
Total
200
100%
Source: FCE Zaria Records Office
The table above shows that 195 of the respondents were single, while the remaining 5 representing 2.5%
of the total respondents were married. Widows and widowers were nil
Table 3: Departments of Respondents
Variables
Frequency
Percentages%
SOS
34
17%
ENG
34
17%
PRED
34
17%
INSC
34
17%
BED
34
17%
ADPL
30
15%
Total
200
100%
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Moral Effects of Social Media on the Prosperity of Youths in F.C.E. Zaria
From the table, 34 of the respondents were from SOS, 34from English, 34 from Primary Education,
another 34 from Integrated Science, 34 others from Business Education and the remaining 30 from Admin
and Planning.
Table 4: Level of Respondents
Variable
Frequency
Percentages%
NCE I
50
25%
NCE II
50
25%
NCE III
55
27%
B.Ed
45
22.5%
Total
200
100%
Table 5 revealed that 50 of the respondents were in NCE I, another 50 in NCE II. However 55 of the
respondents were in NCE III and the remaining 45 representing 22.5% of the total respondents were B.Ed
Christian youth.
Table 5: What is Social Media?
Social Media Perception
SA
A
D
SD
ITEMS
4
3
2
1
A Means of interaction and communication
121
59
11
online
484
177
22
Computer program that allows people to
91
51
37
share information on the internet
364
153
74
Facilities that reduce the world into a
84
63
35
global village
336
189
70
Application that enable users to share
68
59
43
create and share contents
272
177
86
Participate in social networking
77
70
31
308
210
62
32
35
78
128
105
156
Youth daily dairy
L.F
R.I
9
692/200
3.46 SA
21
612/200
3.06 A
18
613/200
3.07A
30
565/200
2.83 A
22
602/200
3.01 A
55
444/200
2.22 D
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Moral Effects of Social Media on the Prosperity of Youths in F.C.E. Zaria
Battle ground for putting ideologies
Life for young people
Rules instead of the tool
61
39
79
244
117
158
64
59
42
256
177
84
39
45
75
156
135
150
21
540/200
2.7 A
35
552/200
2.76 A
41
482/200
2.41 D
Likert scale: (4 – Strongly Agree (SA), 3 – Agree(A), 2 – Disagree(D), 1- Strongly Disagree, SD) L.F
Likert factor , Result Interpretation (R.I)
From Table 6 above, results of the Likert scale computation clearly revealed the perceptions of the
respondents towards how they perceive Social Media. In all the categorized perceived views of what is
Social Media, the respondents only disagree with Rules instead of the tool and Youth daily diary as a
means of defining what is social media. As seen in the table, the second categories of the respondents are
on a scale of
2.22- 3.07 which is high, signifying “Agree” and A Means of interaction and
communication online to a scale of 3.46 – 3.06 which is Very High, signifying “Strongly Agree”
Table 6: Types of Social Media Christian Youth Prefer
Types of Social
SA
A
D
SD
L.F
R.I
4
3
2
1
127
61
9
3
712/200
3.56 S.A
508
183
18
115
51
27
07
674/200
3.37 SA
460
153
54
84
63
35
18
613/200
3.07A
336
189
70
19
27
94
60
405/200
2.03D
76
81
188
00
05
115
80
325/200
1.63SD
00
15
230
Media Christian
Youth Prefer
ITEMS
Facebook
WhatsApp
Twitter
Instagram
2go
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Moral Effects of Social Media on the Prosperity of Youths in F.C.E. Zaria
Google talk
YouTube
08
46
81
32
138
162
61
39
79
244
117
158
65
397/200
1.99 D
21
540/200
2.7 A
The results of Likert scale computation on table 7 above clearly revealed the perception of the
respondents towards the types of social media Christian youth prefer. In all the Categorized perceived
view, the respondents strongly disagree with the item 2go because it is out of fashion while Google talk is
an application they are not familiar with. The second categories of the respondents are on the scale of
1.63- 1.99 which is high, signifying “strongly agree” that Facebook and WhatsApp is the tool Christian
youth prefer to a scale of 3.56-3.37 which is very high signifying “strongly agree”.
Table 7: Moral Effects of Social Media on Christian Youth
Effect of Social Media on Christian
SA
A
D
SD
L.F
R.I
4
3
2
1
128
61
2
9
708/200
3.54 S.A
512
183
4
Aids Christian youth to share the message
93
41
39
27
600/200
3.00 A
of Christ
372
123
78
Bridge the gap among various groups
73
56
37
34
568/200
2.84 A
292
168
74
62
79
33
26
577/200
2.89 A
248
237
66
21
19
115
45
416/200
2.08 D
84
57
230
88
71
32
09
638/200
3.19 A
352
213
64
Youth.
ITEMS
Make friends around the globe
Create jobs
Harms employers productivity
Assist youth to access resource materials
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Moral Effects of Social Media on the Prosperity of Youths in F.C.E. Zaria
Vulnerable to crimes
Aids crimes among Christian youth.
Help in Christians to advance the purpose
61
39
79
244
117
158
64
59
42
256
177
84
105
65
15
420
195
30
97
65
33
388
195
66
101
67
14
404
201
28
21
540/200
2.7 A
35
552/200
2.76 A
05
650/200
3.25 A
05
654/200
3.27 A
8
641/200
3.21 A
of the Kingdom
Help to increasing Christian youth
performance
Have negative effect on Christian youth
performance
The above table portray the results of Likert scale computation which revealed the perception of
respondents on the moral effects of social media on Christian youth. In all the categorized perceived view,
the respondents disagree with the item that social media harms employers productivity on a scale of 2.08
as seen in the table. The second categories of the respondents “strongly agree” that social media aids
Christian youth to make friends around the globe on a scale of 3.54-3.25 which is high, signifying
“Agree”.
Table 9: Moral Values of Social Media on Christian youth
Moral Value of Social Media on
SA
A
D
SD
L.F
R.I
4
3
2
1
Exposes Christian youth to uncensored
129
62
6
3
723/200
3.62 S.A
images
516
186
18
Compassion towards the needy
73
45
57
25
566/200
2.83 A
292
135
114
Christian Youth
ITEMS
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Moral Effects of Social Media on the Prosperity of Youths in F.C.E. Zaria
Aids in disbursement of justice
Unsolicited infiltration of pornographic
84
63
35
336
189
70
108
47
31
432
141
62
65
78
40
260
234
80
121
46
11
484
138
22
108
59
19
432
177
38
18
613/200
3.07A
14
649/200
3.25 A
17
591/200
2.96 A
22
666/200
3.33 S.A
14
661/200
3.31 A
videos
Teaches value of hard work
Christian youth dress code has hit the
rock bottom
Loss of privacy
From the table above, the results of the Likert scale computation clearly revealed the perception of the
respondents on the moral values of social media. In all the categorized perceived view, the respondents
strongly agree that social media exposes Christian youth to uncensored images. As seen in the table, the
second categories of respondents are on the scale of 3.62-3.31 which is high signifying “Agree” that
social media helps Christian youth to loss their privacy.
Conclusion
The nature of the internet with its perceived invisibility anonymity makes it easy for youth to act
differently online compare to how they would in real life situation. The effects of social media can be
overwhelming. An average youth participate in social media such that they take pictures or chats even in
lecture classes and churches. This act has led to “moral disengagement” where they act in an immoral
way while they still view themselves as morally upright. As found in the study, one glaring fact is the
shift in moral value system in Federal College of Education, Zaria as a result of the attendant use of the
various social media platforms. Social media has recorded lots of positive and negative effects on the
Christian youth that some feels it promote immorality among its users. Many of the Christian youth
would rather satisfy their social needs than their academic and moral needs. Parents and teachers of
religious truth must as a matter of urgency guide Christian youth as well as limit their overexposure to the
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Moral Effects of Social Media on the Prosperity of Youths in F.C.E. Zaria
negativity of social media. We as teachers must channel their activities on the media to yield positive
results.
Recommendations
Based on the findings from the study, the following recommendations were made as a way forward:
The government of the nation should enact laws/policy statements that will prosecute or revoke the
licenses of some internet providers’ that air unsolicited images or uncensored videos on the social media.
This will serve as deterrent to those that post these videos on the websites. The government should as well
empower the youth by providing meaningful activities that will engage them in constructively. Christian
youth should take the advantage of social media networking to achieve great feat in the area of academics
so as to become useful individuals as well as group. Youth should be educated on the proper use of these
facilities so as not to be addicted to its use. The parents as a matter of urgency should monitor the
activities of their children and wards as regards their use of the social media.
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