Social Media Influence On Youths’ National Identity And Civic Engagement In Southwestern Nigeria

This study examined the influence of social media on youths’ national identity and civic engagement in Southwestern Nigeria. The target population originally comprised undergraduates from public universities across three Southwestern states—Oyo, Osun, and Lagos. To strengthen representativeness, the study also considered youths in private universities, polytechnics, and non-student populations such as apprentices and employed youths. Using a descriptive survey design complemented by digital ethnography and exploratory interviews, data were collected from 600 undergraduates in public universities and supported with qualitative insights from other youth groups. The main instrument was a structured questionnaire titled Social Media, National Identity, and Civic Engagement Scale (SMNICES), while interviews and digital content analyses were employed to capture deeper narratives of online identity construction. Descriptive statistics were used to answer research questions, while Pearson correlation and regression analysis were employed to test hypotheses. Findings revealed a high level of social media use among youths, with significant relationships between social media exposure, national identity formation, and civic engagement. Qualitative evidence further illustrated how hashtags, memes, and online debates shaped both unity and division. The study concludes that social media is a powerful tool that must be strategically regulated and integrated into civic education to enhance national unity while recognizing the diversity of youth voices beyond the university setting.