PROJECT PROPOSAL ON INFLUENCE OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON BOWEN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS (CASE STUDY OF TWITTER AND INSTAGRAM) BY

INTRODUCTION As years roll over, phenomena revolve, ways of doing things rapidly change. Arrays of discoveries here and there better and easier ways of doing things are devised. Our world, on a daily basis, witnesses rapid changes both in positive ways and otherwise. Scientists and researchers are on their toes to discover, recreate and improve; to covert science findings into technological advancement for the use of human race. Recent decades, in extension century, has no doubt witnessed amazing revolutions in virtually all facets of life. Those things that were done in a particular traditional way in years back are not the same way anymore, they are now done better and more efficiently. Many are obsolete and as good as useless. Those who still live in yesterdays now have the challenge of fitting in into the new innovations and changes. (Boyd D et al, 2007) It would almost sound impossible if somebody had said, by this time typewriters would be useless and everyone would have to learn how to use the computer system. It would have also sounded insane to say that the monopoly of the almighty Nigeria Telecommunication Limited (NITEL) would be broken this badly.

To explain the relevance and quintessential of Information Communication Technology (ICT) is Herculean. It has in no small measure contributed to the communication system of the world. Now, one does not have to depend on the struggling-for-survival Nigeria Postal Service (NIPOST) to communicate with people in distant places through mail. Thanks to the electronic mail. You do not need to rush or queue for NITEL call cards just in the name of communicating over the phone. The monopoly of NITEL was nothing to write home about - that you would have to be looking for the nearest phone booth and where to purchase call credit. Praying the NIPOST official to sell stamp for you is now a thing of the past. As the world moves into the second decade of the 21st century, one of the major markers of this era is the rise and use of online communities. In particular, a paradigm called Web 2.0 describes recent technologies that focus on networking mass numbers of individuals into distinct communities over the Internet (OReilly, 2007). Social networking sites (SNS) are online communities designed to connect individuals to wider networks of relationships, and are one major example of Web 2.0 applications. Sites such as Facebook have exploded in membership. In a short period of 2007 2010, Facebook estimates that its membership has grown from 50 million to over 400 million users. Online social networks are now an integrated part of daily life and compel questions of how these media platforms affect human development, relationships, and interaction. The Internet is more than just a means of seeking information. People discovered that the Internet could be used to connect with other people, whether for business or commercial purpose, make new friends, reawaken old friends and long lost relatives. The emergence of this social networking sites (SNSs) simplified the whole process as majority of them are free to use, they are easier to use and navigate, because it does not require advanced knowledge and experience of the internet and are made up of a wide array of different formats and topics; this

means that just about anyone can connect. Currently, there are hundreds of SNSs that can draw millions of people, with diverse technological affordances. Nearly all sites enable persons to avail pre-existing connections and initiate friendships between strangers. With a rush in the number of people who use or have access to the Internet, SNSs are a must for the Internet community to stay in touch with each other. There are SNSs that have a specific focus. This focus may be on a particular religion, political following, or hobby. Most specialized SNSs restrict the individuals that can take part in their network; thus, making your experience more pleasurable (Rajat, R., 2009). While nearly all SNSs center on rising broadly and exponentially, these restricted SNSs clearly seek limited audiences and some like little world with beautiful people and deliberately confining access to come out carefully and selected. With such extensive acceptance, it is no surprise that social networks have impacted the way people live and socialize (Megat, I; 2009). SNSs are also being used by teachers and students especially in the West as a communication tool. Professors and teachers use forums and groups to extend classroom deliberations. Some of them usually use Twitter to communicate announcements and information to their students. It is a bi-directional process as students too are using these mediums to share comments to their teachers (Megat, I; 2009). Nearly all SNSs are often designed to include certain type of community for instance the college community being emulated by Facebook.com or a music/party community emulated by MySpace.com.

STATEMENT OF RESEARCH PROBLEM This study was undertaken because of the explosive growth of Social Media has provided millions of people the opportunity to create and share content on a scale barely imaginable a few years ago. Massive participation in these social networks is eminent in the countless number of

opinions, news and product reviews that are constantly posted and discussed in social sites such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, to name a few. Given this widespread generation and consumption of content, it is natural to target one's messages to highly connected people who will propagate them further in the social network.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS In this study, we investigate the following questions: i. ii. iii. iv. What are the reasons students engage in the use of SNSs? How does the use of SNSs impact on students academic performance? What are the effects of these technologies on youth development?? How do students use these technologies to communicate, develop relationships, socialize, and learn?

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY It is expected that at the end of this study, to update knowledge within the framework of the study. This study would shed more knowledge on the impact of social networking as It is no doubt that the use ICT increases as the day progresses, therefore its significance in passing across mass messages cannot be over emphasised. This serves as the bedrock of this study to show how effective ICT can be and its major role as a means of communication. The findings of this study will enable students in choosing right media or tools to use and when to use them.

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY This aims of this project is:

To ascertain and evaluate the influence Instagram and Twitter have on students. To know the reasons why students engage in the use of SNSs To evaluate how students use these technologies to communicate, develop relationships, socialize, and learn

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY The survey method is used for the purpose of this research. It involves measuring variables by asking a sample of the student body questions and then examining relationships among the variables. This method was chosen because it would easily give an understanding of the position of the students on social networking sites. The measuring instruments that will be used for this research work will be questionnaire and personal oral interview. The questionnaire has close-ended questions. The close-ended questions will be used to make study easier for the researcher by making the responses measurable. The interview on the other hand will be used by the researcher to interact with the interviewees face to face in other to get in-depth facts from them and also their personal opinions about the study. The researcher considers it best and appropriate to make use of frequency table presentation and simple percentages, while simple descriptive analysis will be used to infer meaning from the

data in the table for analysis because the results will be easily understood by both academicians, and non-academicians. The researcher also understands more the use of percentage than any other method of analyzing data and also considers it a legitimate way of data analysis.

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